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http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_world_27789529_27/09/2003_34536

Turks want to run part of Iraq

ISTANBUL (AFP) - Turkey has told the United States it wants to run a large
portion of northern Iraq, stretching north of Baghdad to Mosul and
Sulaymaniyah, if it contributes to a stabilization force for the country,
Turkish television reported yesterday.

The area, a huge swath totaling 30,000 square kilometers (12,000 square
miles), would avoid sensitive areas, such as Fallujah or Kirkuk, through
land mostly inhabited by Turkmens and Assyrian Arabs, CNN-Turk reported.

The request from the government comes before a debate by the Turkish
Parliament over deploying about 10,000 Turkish troops to Iraq, a decision
Ankara has repeatedly delayed because of strong popular opposition.

Washington has been pressing Ankara to deploy troops but the government of
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hesitated over objections at home.

The proposed zone begins at the conjunction of the rivers Tigris and Great
Zab, south of Mosul, continues to Altun Kubri on Little Zab, passes between
Erbil and Kirkuk, turns south around Kirkuk, skirts Sulaymaniyah and ends at
Baghdad.

The government was awaiting US approval of its request by next week, when
Parliament reconvenes after a long recess and a likely stormy debate over
the proposed deployment.

Turkey said this week it continued to consider the US request but denied a
decision was tied to an $8.5 billion loan offer from Washington.

"We made clear we don't want to be part of an occupation," said Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul. "Iraqi people are unhappy, they want their
sovereignty as soon as possible. We want to get there but, for example, to
get humanitarian aid there. Otherwise, we can't be helpful." US Treasury
Secretary John Snow said the credit would be provided only if Turkey was
judged to have "cooperated" over Iraq.


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E' mai possibile, oh porco di un cane, che le avventure in codesto reame
debban risolversi tutte con grandi puttane!
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