Senior officials from Iraq, Turkey and the United States met Tuesday to coordinate efforts in the fight against Turkish Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq.
Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay hosted the meeting in Ankara Tuesday. U.S. Brigadier General Steven Hummer and Iraqi National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waeli represented their countries at the talks. It was the third meeting for this tri-partate committee.
The officials discussed closer cooperation to root out forces of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by Ankara and much of the international community.
PKK separatists have been fighting for Kurdish rule in southeastern Turkey for a quarter-century, and tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict.
The Turkish air force frequently carries out operations against PKK bases in northern Iraq.
Iraq's al-Waeli underscored Iraq's commitment to battle the rebels, who are based near the Turkish border.
And Turkey's Atalay pressed for Iraq to review the situation at the Makhmour refugee camp in northern Iraq that houses some Turkish Kurds.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and AP.
News
