Turkey has declared several areas near the border with Iraq to be "temporary security zones." The military did not clarify what it meant by the term, but media reports said entry into the areas would be restricted and they would be off-limits to civilian flights.
The Turkish military has recently stepped up operations against Kurdish rebels in regions bordering northern Iraq. On June 6 Iraq and Turkey denied reports Turkish troops had launched a cross-border raid against Kurdish rebels.
Meanwhile, Turkish troops today are conducting military exercises in the Sirnak region near the Iraqi border.
The army announced late on June 6 a ban on all land and air travel between Iraq and three Turkish provinces, including Sirnak, as part of its operations against rebels of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The exercise, scheduled to finish on June 8, is part of regular monthly drills.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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