Turkish press rages at Kurds and US

Turkish press rages at Kurds and US

The Turkish press is furious about the entry of Kurdish troops into the cities of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

Some see it as a case of betrayal by the US, which promised to keep them out of the oil-rich city, while others warn that the Turkish army is ready to invade.

"Twenty-four-hour nightmare in Kirkuk," is the headline in the Radikal newspaper.

A commentator in the newspaper attacks the US saying: "It is obvious that the promises were not kept."

The mass-selling newspaper Hurriyet also complains that US forces should have stopped the Kurds from entering Kirkuk.

High alert

Its editorial writer warned: "This American attitude is leading to a confrontation with Turkey."

If the Turkish army's military intervention in northern Iraq becomes unavoidable, co-ordinated action with US troops will be the preferred option

Milliyet

However, Hurriyet also reports on a conversation between the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Jalal Talabani, and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, in which Mr Talabani reportedly said his peshmerga fighters would withdraw from Kirkuk.

The Zaman newspaper, meanwhile, expresses concern for the Turkmen in Kirkuk.

It says the Kurds could attack this Turkish-speaking minority, which Turkey has traditionally made efforts to protect.

Milliyet newspaper says the Turkish army gave the Kurds 24 hours to leave Kirkuk before taking action against them.

But it says troops have been put on high alert.

Triggers

"If the Turkish army's military intervention in northern Iraq becomes unavoidable, co-ordinated action with US troops will be the preferred option," it says.

"If this cannot be accomplished, the Turkish army will reserve its right to act independently."

The newspaper lists four possible triggers for a Turkish incursion:

• Peshmerga continue "plundering and pillaging" Kirkuk and Mosul
• They refuse to leave the area
• They attack the Turkmen "in a bid to annihilate them or to force them to leave the area"
• Attempts are made to tilt the demographic balance in Kirkuk and Mosul in favour of the Kurds