US Envoys Try to Soothe Angry Turks

Upset over rebel strikes, Turkey may attack Kurdish Iraq
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 13, 2007 4:38 PM CDT
US Envoys Try to Soothe Angry Turks
Eric Edelman, U. S. Undersecretary of Defense for policy and former ambassador to Turkey, left, is seen with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, then Foreign Minister, at the U.S. embassy in Ankara in this June 16, 2005 file photo. The Bush administration sent Edelman and Dan Fried, assistant secretary...   (Associated Press)

Two US envoys flew to Ankara today to urge Turkey not to strike back against Kurdish militants, the BBC reports. Relations between the NATO allies remain strained after US lawmakers accused Turkey this week of waging a WWI-era genocide campaign against Armenians. Turkey reacted by recalling its ambassador from Washington.

Turkish anger has also spiked over recent strikes by Kurdish separatists, including one that killed 13 Turkish soldiers last weekend. The US is pressing Turkey not to retaliate, fearing that battles will block US supply lines and access to a key airbase. But Turkey vows to attack the rebels once parliament gives its approval next week. (More Turkey stories.)

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