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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 17:33 28/10/2007 Iran accuses Israel, U.S. of backing Kurdish separatists in Iraq By The Associated Press Iran's foreign minister on Sunday accused the U.S. and Israel of supporting Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq, but his Turkish counterpart distanced himself from the claim, saying he didn't think Washington was behind the Iraq-based rebels but stressed that Ankara would do what was necessary to stop them. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters in Tehran at a news conference with Ali Babacan, Turkey's foreign minister, that terrorist activities have increased in northern Iraq since foreign forces arrived there. "From our point of view, efforts by Israel and the U.S. are behind some terrorist activities. Most probably, some secret agreements have caused a lack of confrontation against terrorism," Mottaki said, referring to Iraq-based Kurdish rebels. Advertisement "We hope this part of the U.S. policy would be corrected," he said. the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, quoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying, apparently in reference to the U.S.: "Occupiers [of Iraq] endanger the security of nations of the region. Enemies do not like the countries of Iran, Turkey and Iraq to be powerful, peaceful and safe." But Babacan, who was in Iran to lobby for support for the Turkish side in its conflict with the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, expressed gratitude for Iran's cooperation but did not back Mottaki's accusations against the U.S. and Israel, which are allies of Ankara. "I don't like to think that the U.S. supports a terrorist group," Babacan said. The Turkish foreign minister instead stressed that Turkey would use whatever necessary to combat the PKK. "Turkey is fighting against terrorism and will use and support all mechanisms," Babacan said. "International cooperation and solidarity is the only way to fight terrorism." Mottaki offered vague support for Turkey against the PKK but did not elaborate on exactly what Iran would support. "Iran insists on the necessity of using required activities for stopping such terrorist operations," Mottaki said. Babacan's comments echoed those of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who on Saturday said Turkey will fight the Iraq-based Kurdish rebels when it is needed, regardless of international pressure. Erdogan said he would not be constrained by other nations - despite concerns from the United States, Iraq and other countries that an incursion would destabilize northern Iraq. The conflict in southeastern Turkey between government forces and guerrilla fighters has claimed nearly 40,000 lives since 1984. PKK fighters have killed at least 42 people in the past month, including some 30 Turkish soldiers killed in ambushes. In recent months, Turkey has demanded more action from the U.S. and Iraq in the fight against the PKK - which Washington and the European Union have labeled a terrorist group. The sharp escalation in the fighting has brought Turkey to the brink sending troops south across the border into Iraq. Iran has its own problems with Kurdish opposition groups, particularly the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan, known by its Kurdish initials PEJAK. An offshoot of the PKK, PEJACK is struggling for autonomy for Iran's Kurds due to alleged government discrimination, and the mountainous Iran-Iraq border region has been the scene of sporadic clashes between PEJAK and Iranian forces in recent years. PEJAK and PKK bases in Iraq's Mount Qandil region, right on the border with Iran and Turkey, have long been a sore point in relations between the three countries. Babacan also visited several Arab countries in recent weeks to gauge their support for a Turkish offensive into northern Iraq. Both the Egypt and Jordan have cautioned Turkey against unleashing a troop offensive against the rebels and urged dialogue. Alone among Arab countries was Syria, an Iran ally which has come out in support of Turkey Bookmark to del.icio.us 6 years on Officials say Syria's suspected reactor was under construction in 2001. Nyet to aliyah The minister was wrong: Nativ's tactics simply aren't suited to today's Jewish village.   1.   And if its true, so what? 13:58  |  Yonatan 28/10/07   2.   PKK on US List of Terrorist Orgs 14:24  |  Jane 28/10/07   3.   hypocritical victim exchange rate 15:09  |  henon 28/10/07   4.   Yonathan 15:18  |  eva 28/10/07   5.   Kurdistan 15:19  |  Fortune 28/10/07   6.   U.S double standard will destabilize the " Stabile" Iraqi Kurds 16:45  |  Sky Hawk 28/10/07   7.   It is partly true 18:07  |  Jean-Paul DOGUET 28/10/07   8.   Babacan did not diagree with Mottaki re... 18:11  |  ManintheMIddle 28/10/07   9.   To Henon, the man from space 18:47  |  Dan 28/10/07   10.   Being fair and telling as it is 19:20  |  Teacher 28/10/07   11.   to Dan, the man still in space 19:26  |  Henon 28/10/07   12.   Israelian people should wake up 01:36  |  Castroman 29/10/07   13.   Jean Paul Doguet # 7 02:09  |  Philippe 29/10/07   14.   Iran`s double standards 02:11  |  Philippe 29/10/07   15.   To Dan,from palestine. 04:35  |  khalil 29/10/07   16.   The zionist hipocracy. 04:45  |  khalil 29/10/07   17.   continued,hipocracy 04:59  |  khalil 29/10/07   18.   They back Iranian separatists! 07:42  |  Roxana from IRAN 29/10/07   19.   give iranian border region back to the kurds 19:16  |  frenz 29/10/07

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