BAGHDAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish envoy to Baghdad said on Wednesday that his country will not set a timetable for the withdrawal of its troops fighting PKK fighters in northern Iraq.

    Babacan made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha after their official talks in the Turkish capital of Ankara.Full Story>>>

■ U.S. hopes Turkey shortens incursion in Iraq
    WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States reiterated on Monday its call for Turkey to shorten its military operation against Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq.

    "We hope that this is just a short-term incursion," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters. Full Story>>>

■Turkey says 35 PKK militants killed in cross-border operation

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement posted on its website that the latest deaths bring the killed rebels and soldiers to 79 and seven since Turkey launched a ground incursion into Iraq late Thursday. Full Story>>>

■ Analyst: Turkey's cross-border ground incursion against PKK comes earlier than planned

    ANKARA, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) launched cross-border ground operations against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq late on Thursday, earlier than the original plan in March to stifle the weakened group, local analysts said on Saturday.

    The Turkish military General Staff announced in a statement on Friday that the TSK launched a cross-border ground operation into north of Iraq as of 7 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Thursday following successful artillery bombardment, which was backed by air forces jets. Full Story>>>

■ Turkey vows to achieve targets of cross-border operation against PKK

    ANKARA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Friday that the cross-border operation launched by the armed forces TSK must achieved its targets to strike the hide-outs of the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) based in the north of Iraq.

    "The TSK will rapidly return to Turkey as soon as it reaches its aims," which is the sole target of operations, Erdogan said.  Full Story>>>

■ UN chief appeals for "respect" of borders between Turkey, Iraq

    UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday appealed for restraint and respect of the borders between Turkey and Iraq.

    "The secretary-general is concerned by the latest escalation of tension along the Turkish-Iraqi border," said a statement issued by Ban's press office. "While conscious of Turkey's concerns, he reiterates his appeal for utmost restraint, and for respect of the international borders between Iraq and Turkey."  Full Story>>>

■ President: Turkey exerts utmost efforts to prevent civilians hurt in cross-border operation

    ANKARA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Abdullah Gul stressed on Friday that Turkish Military Forces exerted maximum effort to prevent innocent civilians from being hurt in the ground operation it staged to hunt down PKK rebels in northern Iraq.

    Gul said in a written statement that "we have always welcomed and extended a helping hand to Iraqi people at their hard times and they are a friend and relative of Turkey."  Full Story>>>

■ U.S. urges Turkey to limit operations in N Iraq

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States said Friday it is urging Turkey to limit its operations in northern Iraq to precise targeting of the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

    "We were notified and we urged the Turkish government to limit their operations to precise targeting of the PKK, to limit the scope and duration of their operations," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.  Full Story>>>

■ U.S. military confirms Turkey incursion against PKK

    BAGHDAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military in Iraq said Friday it was aware of Turkey's latest cross-border operation in Iraq against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

    The U.S. military said it "is aware that Turkish ground forces have entered into northern Iraq, for what we understand is an operation of limited duration to specifically target PKK terrorists." Full Story>>>

    ■Oil closes near $99 as Turkish troops move into Iraq

    NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Crude-oil futures gained modestly Friday on supply concerns raised by Turkish incursions to Iraq, holder of the world's third-largest crude reserves.

    Crude for April delivery gained 58 cents, or 0.6 percent, to close at 98.81 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Full Story>>>

    ■Tanks of Turkish army head for N Iraq

    ANKARA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tanks of the Turkish Armed Forces are continuing heading to Iraq at southeastern Habur border Fridayas part of the ground operation launched against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in north of Iraq, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    Turkish tanks from south-eastern province of Sirnak's Silopi town are heading for the north of Iraq in fighting against the PKK targets. Full Story>>>

    ■ Turkish president invites Iraqi counterpart to visit Turkey

    ANKARA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Abdullah Gul has called his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani and invited him to visit Turkey, said a statement released by Turkish presidential press center Friday.

    The statement said Gul briefed Talabani about the ground operation which Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) initiated on Thursday against outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the north of Iraq.  Full Story>>>

    ■Turkish jets take off from military airport in SE Turkey

    ANKARA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish jets took off from a military airport in southeastern province of Diyarbakir and headed to Turkish-Iraqi border on Friday, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    The Turkish jets and helicopters are flying across the border on a reconnaissance mission, according to the report.  Full Story>>>

Turkish tanks move near the southeastern Turkish town of Silopi, near the Iraqi border, February 21, 2008. Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has launched a cross-border ground operation in fight against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the north of Iraq.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ■Turkish army launches ground incursion into Iraq

    ANKARA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has launched a cross-border ground operation in fight against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in the north of Iraq.

This is the first cross-border ground operation of Turkey since the Turkish government gave the authority for the army to launch cross-border ground operations in fight against the PKK militants in the north of Iraq last November. Full Story>>>

    ■Turkey vows to continue cross-border operations against PKK in N Iraq

    ANKARA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish National Security Council (MGK) said Thursday that cross-border operations against the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) will continue as long as the Turkish Armed Forces see them necessary.

"The MGK reaffirmed its determination to maintain measures against the activities of the terrorist organization and its supporters aiming to harm public order, unity and solidarity, and peace and confidence," said a statement released after the MGK meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.  Full Story>>>

    ■Turkish think tank expects ground operation against PKK in N Iraq

    ANKARA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish think tank said on Thursday that a ground operation against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in north of Iraq will take place with cooperation of the United States, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    Sedat Laciner, president of International Strategic Research Organization (USAK), was quoted as saying that "There are currently discussions taking place between Turkish and U.S. officials on the land operation."  Full Story>>>