KurdistanObserver.com

US Tells Turkey Time Not Ripe For Military Action Against Kurdish Rebels

ANKARA, March 24, 2006 (AFP) - The top US military officer on Friday ruled out any action against separatist Turkish Kurd rebels in northern Iraq before Iraqi authorities are able to bring the security sitation in their country under control and set up a strong government.

"Any kind of attack against the PKK inside northern Iraq will have to wait until we are able to get the security situation throughout Iraq to a level at which the Iraqi government can function," Peter Pace, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said in an interview with the NTV news channel.

He added that possible action against rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), blacklisted as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, would also require an Iraqi government that can "stand up".

"We should understand that the best way to deal with the PKK is from a position of strength," said Pace, who was in Turkey to attend a conference on global terrorism.

"Your country is strong... We need to strengthen Iraq so it too can deal with (the PKK) from a position of strength," Pace added.

Turkey has long been frustrated by Washington's reluctance to act against PKK rebels who have found refuge in northern Iraq after declaring a unilateral ceasefire in 1999