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DATE=2/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245648
TITLE=TURKEY / P-K-K / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  SEVERAL THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS HAVE LAUNCHED A 
CROSS-BORDER OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ IN
WHAT TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A LIMITED OPERATION. 
AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS WORD OF THE INCURSION COMES A DAY
AFTER KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS BROUGHT TO TURKEY 
AFTER BEING CAPTURED BY TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES IN KENYA.
TEXT:  TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIALS SAID THE OPERATION WOULD BE 
BRIEF AND LIMITED IN SCOPE AND WAS AIMED AT ELIMINATING POCKETS 
OF P-K-K REBELS HIDING OUT IN THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS SEPARATING 
TURKEY FROM IRAQ.
THE OPERATION WAS ANNOUNCED JUST AS TURKISH TELEVISION BEGAN 
BROADCASTING PICTURES OF THE P-K-K LEADER AFTER HIS CAPTURE BY 
TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES IN KENYA ON MONDAY.
TURKISH FORCES ROUTINELY CROSS INTO KURDISH-HELD NORTHERN IRAQ 
WHERE THE P-K-K IS BELIEVED TO HAVE NUMEROUS MOBILE UNITS.  THE 
ATTACKS ARE USUALLY CARRIED OUT JOINTLY WITH IRAQI KURDISH 
FIGHTERS BELONGING TO THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OR K-D-P.
TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL RENEWED APPEALS FOR ABOUT 
SIX-THOUSAND P-K-K REBELS STILL IN COMBAT TO HAND THEMSELVES OVER
TO TURKISH AUTHORITIES.  THE PRESIDENT SAID THE REBELS COULD BE 
PARDONED UNDER A SO-CALLED REPENTANCE LAW THAT COULD BE PASSED AT
SHORT NOTICE BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT.
MEANWHILE, THERE ARE WIDESPREAD REPORTS THAT A LEADERSHIP 
STRUGGLE HAS ERUPTED WITHIN THE REBEL RANKS FOLLOWING MR. 
OCALAN'S CAPTURE.  HIS BROTHER OSMAN IS SAID TO HAVE DECLARED 
HIMSELF THE NEW LEADER OF THE P-K-K.  BUT HE IS BEING CHALLENGED 
BY TWO OTHER P-K-K COMMANDERS, MURAT KARAYILAN AND CEMIL BAYIK  
THE REPORTS COULD  NOT  BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED.
THE P-K-K HAS BEEN WAGING A 14-YEAR ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH 
SELF RULE IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES.  
MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE CONFLICT.  (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/KL
17-Feb-99 2:05 PM EST (1905 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.