Turkish soldiers attend an operation in the bordering area between Turkey and Iraq on Feb. 28, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    ANKARA, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish General Staff said on Friday the cross-border operation reached its goal and Turkish troops returned to bases in Turkey on Feb. 29.

    The General Staff said in a statement posted on its website that the Staff decided on the beginning and completion date of the operation by considering military needs.

Turkish troops begin withdrawing from N Iraq

    ANKARA, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish troops have begun withdrawing from northern Iraq on Friday, eight days after being sent there for a cross-border ground operation against the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) rebels, local NTV reported.

    However, the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces said in a statement on its website Friday that it would issue an extensive press release shortly regarding the breaking news appearing in the media that Turkish troops were pulling out from the north of Iraq.  Full story

Gates urges Turkey to keep Iraq incursion short

    ANKARA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that Turkey's cross-border ground operation against the rebels of the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq should be short and precisely targeted as possible.

    Gates, who arrived in Turkish capital of Ankara on Wednesday for an official visit, made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Turkish Counterpart Vecdi Gonul after their talks.  Full story

Turkey beefs up security on border to prevent PKK infiltration

    ANKARA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey deployed additional troops and armored vehicles along the borders with Iraq on Wednesday to prevent the infiltration of the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK)as the ground operation against the terrorist group in Iraq's north continues, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    Helicopter gunships escorted buses carrying troops and military vehicles heading for the Iraqi border, according to the report.   Full story

Turkey refuses to set timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq

    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.

    "Our mission in northern Iraq is clear and there will be no timetable for our troops to withdraw until those terrorist bases are eliminated," the Turkish envoy, Ahmet Davutoglu, told a news conference in Baghdad after talks with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd.   Full story