Iraqi Kurd reaches out to Turkey

Rival Kurdish groups are fighting for control of parts of northern Iraq

By Chris Morris in Istanbul

The leader of one of the main Kurdish factions in northern Iraq has promised Turkey that he will co-operate fully in the fight against the Turkish Kurd rebel movement, the PKK.

Talabani: Bitter dispute with the PKK

Jalal Talabani, who heads the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, has been holding talks with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials in Ankara.

He will meet the Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, on Wednesday.

Alliances shift constantly in the turbulent world of Kurdish politics.

For now, the PUK is locked in a bitter dispute with the PKK.

Heavy fighting

Jalal Talabani said about 8,000 PKK fighters are in northern Iraq and he made it clear that their presence is not welcome.

Abdullah Ocalan, jailed by Turkey, leads the PKK

He said he had not come to Ankara to ask for military assistance.

Other Kurdish sources, however, say several hundred Turkish soldiers are already in the territory which Mr Talabani's faction controls.

For now, the region is reported to be quiet but over the last few months fighting between the rival Kurdish groups has caused hundreds of casualties.

The PKK has been trying to expand its operations in northern Iraq after withdrawing most of its forces from Turkey and declaring a ceasefire there.

But the Iraqi Kurds do not want to give ground to the PKK, nor do they want to risk the wrath of the Turkish military.

Mr Ecevit said this week that Turkey is providing technical assistance to both the PUK and the other Iraqi Kurdish group, the KDP, to help them fight the PKK.

He said Turkey still believes the PKK poses a serious threat.