Top commander charges regional administration in N.Iraq with harboring terrorist PKK

Deputy Chief of the General Staff Gen. Hasan Iğsız yesterday held a press conference at the General Staff headquarters and briefed media members on the recent terrorist PKK attack targeting a military border outpost in Semdinli district of the southeastern province of Hakkari. Stating that there is no problem with the sharing of intelligence between Turkey and the US against the terrorist PKK, Igsiz said, "But we cannot receive any support from the regional administration in northern Iraq." He accused the regional administration of supporting the terrorist group by allowing the terrorist PKK members to use hospitals, roads and basic facilities in northern Iraq. He urged the regional administration to label the PKK as a terrorist organization and cut the support extended to them. He said, "The terrorist organization is moving towards a breaking point, and looking for a way out by conducting sensational actions." Gen. Igsiz said, "The martyred soldiers didn't die in vain. They fought back successfully till the end and protected the outpost." Touching on the General Staff's legal demands to more effectively fight the terrorist group, he said, "There should be a balance between the security needs and human rights." Gen. Igsiz added, "23 terrorists were killed during the clashes. We predict that this number could be more due to the intensified artillery fires and air strikes by the Turkish army." He also said that efforts had been initiated last year to move five military outposts at border areas with Iraq and Iran to more secure places. Gen. Igsiz also warned that some malicious groups were trying to foment ethnic conflicts among people. In related news, Turkish war planes hit the terrorist PKK bases in northern Iraq yesterday.