October 2007 clashes in Hakkari
Encyclopedia
The October 2007 clashes in Hakkari were a series of clashes between the Kurdistan Workers' Party
and the Turkish Armed Forces
.
(PKK) killed 15 Turkish soldiers.
In one of the heaviest single losses inflicted on the Turkish Armed Forces
by the PKK, a large militant force ambushed an 18-man Turkish commando
unit in the Garbar Mountains of Şırnak Province
on 7 October, killing 13 soldiers and wounding three. One PKK fighter was killed. Following the attack, the military shelled
areas near the Iraq–Turkey border to prevent the militants from crossing into northern Iraq
.
Some days after, the Grand National Assembly
approved a measure granting Turkish troops the right to carry out an incursion into northern Iraq.
One of the wounded Turkish soldiers explained the attack in an interview. He said that he was part of a company
of 50 soldiers who were attacked starting at 00:20 by around 150 attackers whom even had a Doçka
(a Soviet heavy anti-aircraft machine gun). The attackers retreated after 03:45 when AH-1 Cobra
s arrived.
The Turkish Armed Forces
announced that after sending reinforcements and helicopters to the area shortly afterwards as a retaliation, 32 of the PKK militants were reportedly killed in the earlier stages of the operation.
Not far from the scene of the ambush, a minibus with a wedding party hit a landmine believed planted by the PKK. Seventeen civilians (six of them children) were injured and the minibus was completely wrecked. The wounded were airlifted to the Yüksekova hospital.
helicopters and F-16 Fighting Falcon
jets took off of the Diyarbakır
Air base and hit PKK camps as far as 50 km into Iraqi territory. Foreign media services have confirmed this.
Turkish elite commandos have began a hot pursuit
operation in northern Iraq to find the eight missing Turkish soldiers. Radio chatter among PKK operatives on an open channel claimed that after their photos were taken two of the eight soldiers were taken to Arbil
. The soldiers were eventually released on 4 November, though all eight were charged with "disobeying orders" by surrendering.
In the search and destroy
operation in the vicinity of the attack area, Turkey captured 3 AK-47
assault rifle
s, 36 hand grenades, one RPG-7
rocket launcher
, 27 rockets, 153 AK-47
cartridges, 10 AK-47
magazines and 500 grams of C-4
explosives from the area.
On 28 October, 8,000 Turkish troops with air support carried out a major operation in Tunceli Province
, killing 20 PKK members according to the army.
Azerbaijan: The Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Khazar Ibrahim
said "PKK is a terrorist organization and Azerbaijan, as a country suffering from the terrorism, understands and supports the actions of Turkey" in a press conference. Attacks by the PKK led to unorganized protests on 21 October 2007 in Baku
, Azerbaijan
in response.
Belgium: An anti-PKK protest had broken out in Schaerbeek Saint-Josse
Belgium
. Some 800 protesters have clashed with the police. 100 people were wounded. Some of the protesters rammed into a squad car wounding the 3 police officers inside. 3 people were arrested for attempted murder as a result.
Canada: Minister of Foreign Affairs
Maxime Bernier
made the statement "Canada condemns the terrorist attacks inflicted upon Turkey by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)."
Early Modern France: Minister of Foreign Affairs
Bernard Kouchner
made the statement: "we condemn in the strongest terms the attack by the PKK on October 21 which killed 12 Turkish soldiers. [...] For France and the European Union, the PKK is a terrorist organization which must be determinedly fought everywhere."
Germany: Foreign Office minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
stated that "the federal government condemns any kind of terror in the strongest terms." President of Germany Turkish Society Kenan Kolat declared that "the attacks cannot have any right cause. But to state for our European friends, when it comes to Islamic terror you ask us to oppose but I think our European friends does not have the same sensitivity against terror with us."
Greece: Minister for Foreign Affairs
made the statement: "We encouraged the Turkish government in its diplomatic effort once more, condemning every terrorist action that takes place on its territory, something which is a constant Greek position"
Iraq: In preparations to a possible incursion by Turkey into northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan
authorities have deployed more Peshmerga
fighters to the border. Talabani and Barzani stated that the PKK must leave Iraq if it desires to fight. They further stated that they would not hand a cat let alone a Kurd to the Turkish authorities and that they would not side with anyone. On a separate announcement Barzani said they do not consider the PKK to be a terrorist organization. Iraqi president Talabani said that the PKK will drop arms. After a phone call from Condoleezza Rice
, Barzani also asked the PKK to cease fire. Despite this the PKK announced that a cease-fire was not the case. Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki
said that all offices of PKK would be shut and that PKK will be denied the use of Iraqi soil for their operations. Maliki on a discussion with Turkish foreign relations minister Babacan has stated that the PKK is a threat to Iraq as well for attacking the Iraqi oil pipelines, a very important source of income in Iraq.
Italy: President of the Council of Ministers of Italy (Prime Minister) Romano Prodi
in a phone call relayed his condolences and solidarity for the act of terrorism on 26 October.
Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
made the statement: "The Government of Japan is concerned over the recent security situation in the Republic of Turkey where a number of people including civilians have been victimized by the terrorist attacks of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason. The Government of Japan emphatically condemns the latest series of violence by the PKK. The Government of Japan calls upon the Government of Iraq to take appropriate measures to stop the terrorist activities of PKK members hiding in northern Iraq, and the Government of Turkey to exercise utmost self-restraint. Japan hopes that the situation will swiftly calm down with the cooperation of the countries concerned."
Turkey: Attacks by the PKK has led to a series of unorganized protests that had taken place on 21 October 2007 in various cities throughout Turkey
in response. In Istanbul the protests centered around Taksim Square, where political activists gave away small Turkish flags to the people congregating there. All scheduled concerts and entertainment programs were canceled in reaction to the attacks. Various Turkish business persons have condemned the attacks. 350 being women a total of 4,500 signed up as volunteers to join the armed forces to fight against the PKK. 1,200 of the 4,500 had already completed heir mandatory military service. The Turkish government is currently debating how to respond to the attacks. Turkey may cut the electricity she is selling to northern Iraq whether or not this will be cut hasn't been decided on yet. Turkish military presence at the Iraqi border has reached "highest levels" with numerous rainforcements of Tanks and other military hardware. Turkey demanded that Turkey may decide not to perform a land based operation in Northern Iraq by the Neighboring Countries of Iraq meeting on 2 November on the conditions that Iraq start returning the PKK leaders on a 150-person list already handed to Iraq andthat the envoy that will come to Turkey tomorrow (25 October) to have useful intelligence information with them.
United Kingdom: In a press conference with the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Gordon Brown
said that they "absolutely and unequivocally condemn the terrorist violence of the PKK" and further added that they are signing a strategic partnership with Turkey.
United States: Head of foreign affairs Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
asked Turkey to give them a few days to respond to the attacks properly. The Turkish prime minister said that Rice was implying that the US may act together with Turkey. US president George W. Bush
called the Turkish president Abdullah Gül
and assured that they are with Turkey on the war against the PKK. He also added that he will continue to pressure Iraqis to take action against the PKK. David M. Satterfield, senior adviser on Iraq to United States Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
, has said that they are not pleased with the lack of action by the Kurdish leaders.
United States & : In a joint statement US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice
and UK Foreign Secretary
David Miliband
announced that they "condemn the latest attacks by the PKK terrorist group against Turkey and its citizens." In the statement they further urged the "Iraqi and Kurdish Regional Government authorities to take immediate steps to halt PKK operations from Iraqi territory."
NATO: Secretary General of NATO
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
"firmly condemned" the latest PKK attack on behalf of the NATO Allies.
European Union: President of the European Parliament
Hans-Gert Pöttering
has stated a "total condemnation of the terrorist violence perpetrated by the PKK in Turkish territory, in particular the attacks carried out over this last weekend". The statement further urged that "the International Community, in particular all the main stakeholders in the region, must support Turkey's efforts to protect its population and fight terrorism" President of the European Commission
José Manuel Barroso said that Turkey has a right to defend herself. He further added that they condemned PKK's attack.
Kurdistan Workers' Party
The Kurdistan Workers' Party , commonly known as PKK, also known as KGK and formerly known as KADEK or KONGRA-GEL , is a Kurdish organization which has since 1984 been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan and greater cultural and political rights...
and the Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
.
7–8 October attacks
On 7–8 October, the Kurdistan Workers' PartyKurdistan Workers' Party
The Kurdistan Workers' Party , commonly known as PKK, also known as KGK and formerly known as KADEK or KONGRA-GEL , is a Kurdish organization which has since 1984 been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan and greater cultural and political rights...
(PKK) killed 15 Turkish soldiers.
In one of the heaviest single losses inflicted on the Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
by the PKK, a large militant force ambushed an 18-man Turkish commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
unit in the Garbar Mountains of Şırnak Province
Şırnak Province
The Şırnak Province is a Turkish province in southeastern Anatolia. It has a population of 430,109 . The population was 353,197 in 2000....
on 7 October, killing 13 soldiers and wounding three. One PKK fighter was killed. Following the attack, the military shelled
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
areas near the Iraq–Turkey border to prevent the militants from crossing into northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Some days after, the Grand National Assembly
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
approved a measure granting Turkish troops the right to carry out an incursion into northern Iraq.
21 October attack
The PKK blew up a bridge to prevent reinforcements thirty minutes before the attack using 15 kilograms of explosives, cutting off the main route. The PKK attackers then launched an assault on a military outpost, killing 12 soldiers and wounding 16. Eight Turkish soldiers were captured by the PKK.One of the wounded Turkish soldiers explained the attack in an interview. He said that he was part of a company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
of 50 soldiers who were attacked starting at 00:20 by around 150 attackers whom even had a Doçka
DShK
The DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
(a Soviet heavy anti-aircraft machine gun). The attackers retreated after 03:45 when AH-1 Cobra
AH-1 Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
s arrived.
The Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. They consist of the Army, the Navy , and the Air Force...
announced that after sending reinforcements and helicopters to the area shortly afterwards as a retaliation, 32 of the PKK militants were reportedly killed in the earlier stages of the operation.
Not far from the scene of the ambush, a minibus with a wedding party hit a landmine believed planted by the PKK. Seventeen civilians (six of them children) were injured and the minibus was completely wrecked. The wounded were airlifted to the Yüksekova hospital.
Counter attacks
Artillery was fired into northern Iraq following the 21 October attacks. On early 24 October, AH-1 CobraAH-1 Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois...
helicopters and F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
jets took off of the Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
Air base and hit PKK camps as far as 50 km into Iraqi territory. Foreign media services have confirmed this.
Turkish elite commandos have began a hot pursuit
Hot pursuit
In law enforcement and international law, hot pursuit can refer to:*An immediate pursuit by the police such as a car chase.*In international treaty law, laws of federal states, or other legal rules governing cross-border police operations when law enforcement officers and agents of one...
operation in northern Iraq to find the eight missing Turkish soldiers. Radio chatter among PKK operatives on an open channel claimed that after their photos were taken two of the eight soldiers were taken to Arbil
Arbil
Arbil / Hewlêr is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul...
. The soldiers were eventually released on 4 November, though all eight were charged with "disobeying orders" by surrendering.
In the search and destroy
Search and destroy
Search and Destroy, Seek and Destroy, or even simply S&D, refers to a military strategy that became a notorious component of the Vietnam War. The idea was to insert ground forces into hostile territory, search out the enemy, destroy them, and withdraw immediately afterward...
operation in the vicinity of the attack area, Turkey captured 3 AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
s, 36 hand grenades, one RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
rocket launcher
Shoulder-launched missile weapon
A shoulder-fired missile, shoulder-launched missile or man-portable missile is a projectile fired at a target, small enough to be carried by a single person, and fired while held on one's shoulder...
, 27 rockets, 153 AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
cartridges, 10 AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
magazines and 500 grams of C-4
C-4 (explosive)
C4 or Composition C4 is a common variety of the plastic explosive known as Composition C.-Composition and manufacture:C4 is made up of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer and usually marker or odorizing taggant chemicals such as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane to help detect the explosive and...
explosives from the area.
On 28 October, 8,000 Turkish troops with air support carried out a major operation in Tunceli Province
Tunceli Province
The Tunceli Province is a province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The province was named Dersim Province and was changed to Tunceli Province on January 4, 1936. with the "Law on Administration of the Tunceli Province" , no...
, killing 20 PKK members according to the army.
Reaction
Azerbaijan: The Press Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan Khazar IbrahimKhazar Ibrahim
Khazar Ibrahim is an adviser for Azerbaijan's ambassador to the United States.-Education:He graduated from the Baku State University, Azerbaijan, with an MA in International Relations, from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., with an MA in Security Studies.-Career:He is a career diplomat,...
said "PKK is a terrorist organization and Azerbaijan, as a country suffering from the terrorism, understands and supports the actions of Turkey" in a press conference. Attacks by the PKK led to unorganized protests on 21 October 2007 in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in response.
Belgium: An anti-PKK protest had broken out in Schaerbeek Saint-JosseSaint-Josse
Saint-Josse, or Saint-Josse-sur-Mer, is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Saint-Josse is located 4 miles west of Montreuil-sur-Mer on the D144 road...
Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Some 800 protesters have clashed with the police. 100 people were wounded. Some of the protesters rammed into a squad car wounding the 3 police officers inside. 3 people were arrested for attempted murder as a result.
Canada: Minister of Foreign AffairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's international relations section of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada....
Maxime Bernier
Maxime Bernier
Maxime Bernier, PC, MP is a Canadian politician currently serving as the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper....
made the statement "Canada condemns the terrorist attacks inflicted upon Turkey by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)."
Early Modern France: Minister of Foreign AffairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
made the statement: "we condemn in the strongest terms the attack by the PKK on October 21 which killed 12 Turkish soldiers. [...] For France and the European Union, the PKK is a terrorist organization which must be determinedly fought everywhere."
Germany: Foreign Office ministerForeign Office (Germany)
The Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of Germany, a federal agency responsible for both the country's foreign politics and its relationship with the European Union. From 1871 to 1919, it was led by a Foreign Secretary, and since 1919, it has been led by the Foreign Minister of Germany...
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany , and currently the leader of the opposition in the Bundestag. Steinmeier was a close aide of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, serving as Chief of Staff in the German Chancellery from 1999 to 2005...
stated that "the federal government condemns any kind of terror in the strongest terms." President of Germany Turkish Society Kenan Kolat declared that "the attacks cannot have any right cause. But to state for our European friends, when it comes to Islamic terror you ask us to oppose but I think our European friends does not have the same sensitivity against terror with us."
Greece: Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Greece)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the senior minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, established on 3 April 1833. The current Minister for Foreign Affairs, since 11 November 2011 is the former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas...
made the statement: "We encouraged the Turkish government in its diplomatic effort once more, condemning every terrorist action that takes place on its territory, something which is a constant Greek position"
Iraq: In preparations to a possible incursion by Turkey into northern Iraq, Iraqi KurdistanIraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
authorities have deployed more Peshmerga
Peshmerga
Peshmerga or Peshmerge is the term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters. Literally meaning "those who face death" the Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan have been in existence since the advent of the Kurdish independence movement in the early 1920s, following the collapse of the Ottoman...
fighters to the border. Talabani and Barzani stated that the PKK must leave Iraq if it desires to fight. They further stated that they would not hand a cat let alone a Kurd to the Turkish authorities and that they would not side with anyone. On a separate announcement Barzani said they do not consider the PKK to be a terrorist organization. Iraqi president Talabani said that the PKK will drop arms. After a phone call from Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
, Barzani also asked the PKK to cease fire. Despite this the PKK announced that a cease-fire was not the case. Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki
Nouri al-Maliki
Nouri Kamil Mohammed Hasan al-Maliki , also known as Jawad al-Maliki or Abu Esraa, is the Prime Minister of Iraq and the secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party. Al-Maliki and his government succeeded the Iraqi Transitional Government. He is currently in his second term as Prime Minister...
said that all offices of PKK would be shut and that PKK will be denied the use of Iraqi soil for their operations. Maliki on a discussion with Turkish foreign relations minister Babacan has stated that the PKK is a threat to Iraq as well for attacking the Iraqi oil pipelines, a very important source of income in Iraq.
Italy: President of the Council of Ministers of Italy (Prime Minister) Romano ProdiRomano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
in a phone call relayed his condolences and solidarity for the act of terrorism on 26 October.
Japan: Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The is a cabinet level ministry of Japan responsible for the country's foreign relations.The ministry is due to the second term of the third article of the National Government Organization Act , and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishment Act establishes the ministry...
made the statement: "The Government of Japan is concerned over the recent security situation in the Republic of Turkey where a number of people including civilians have been victimized by the terrorist attacks of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason. The Government of Japan emphatically condemns the latest series of violence by the PKK. The Government of Japan calls upon the Government of Iraq to take appropriate measures to stop the terrorist activities of PKK members hiding in northern Iraq, and the Government of Turkey to exercise utmost self-restraint. Japan hopes that the situation will swiftly calm down with the cooperation of the countries concerned."
Turkey: Attacks by the PKK has led to a series of unorganized protests that had taken place on 21 October 2007 in various cities throughout TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in response. In Istanbul the protests centered around Taksim Square, where political activists gave away small Turkish flags to the people congregating there. All scheduled concerts and entertainment programs were canceled in reaction to the attacks. Various Turkish business persons have condemned the attacks. 350 being women a total of 4,500 signed up as volunteers to join the armed forces to fight against the PKK. 1,200 of the 4,500 had already completed heir mandatory military service. The Turkish government is currently debating how to respond to the attacks. Turkey may cut the electricity she is selling to northern Iraq whether or not this will be cut hasn't been decided on yet. Turkish military presence at the Iraqi border has reached "highest levels" with numerous rainforcements of Tanks and other military hardware. Turkey demanded that Turkey may decide not to perform a land based operation in Northern Iraq by the Neighboring Countries of Iraq meeting on 2 November on the conditions that Iraq start returning the PKK leaders on a 150-person list already handed to Iraq andthat the envoy that will come to Turkey tomorrow (25 October) to have useful intelligence information with them.
United Kingdom: In a press conference with the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, Prime Minister of the United KingdomPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
said that they "absolutely and unequivocally condemn the terrorist violence of the PKK" and further added that they are signing a strategic partnership with Turkey.
United States: Head of foreign affairs Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
asked Turkey to give them a few days to respond to the attacks properly. The Turkish prime minister said that Rice was implying that the US may act together with Turkey. US president George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
called the Turkish president Abdullah Gül
Abdullah Gül
Dr. Abdullah Gül, GCB is the 11th and current President of the Republic of Turkey, serving in that office since 28 August 2007. He previously served for four months as Prime Minister from 2002-03, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2003-07....
and assured that they are with Turkey on the war against the PKK. He also added that he will continue to pressure Iraqis to take action against the PKK. David M. Satterfield, senior adviser on Iraq to United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
, has said that they are not pleased with the lack of action by the Kurdish leaders.
United States & : In a joint statement US Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
and UK Foreign Secretary
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
David Miliband
David Miliband
David Wright Miliband is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for South Shields since 2001, and was the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2007 to 2010. He is the elder son of the late Marxist theorist Ralph Miliband...
announced that they "condemn the latest attacks by the PKK terrorist group against Turkey and its citizens." In the statement they further urged the "Iraqi and Kurdish Regional Government authorities to take immediate steps to halt PKK operations from Iraqi territory."
NATO: Secretary General of NATOSecretary General of NATO
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the chairman of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making organisation of the defence alliance. The Secretary-General also serves as the leader of the organisation's staff and as its chief spokesman...
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Jakob Gijsbert "Jaap" de Hoop Scheffer is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as the 11th Secretary General of NATO from January 5, 2004 until August 1, 2009....
"firmly condemned" the latest PKK attack on behalf of the NATO Allies.
European Union: President of the European ParliamentPresident of the European Parliament
The President of the European Parliament presides over the debates and activities of the European Parliament. He or she also represents the Parliament within the EU and internationally. The President's signature is required for enacting most EU laws and the EU budget.Presidents serve...
Hans-Gert Pöttering
Hans-Gert Pöttering
Hans-Gert Pöttering is a German conservative politician , and was the President of the European Parliament from January 2007 to July 2009...
has stated a "total condemnation of the terrorist violence perpetrated by the PKK in Turkish territory, in particular the attacks carried out over this last weekend". The statement further urged that "the International Community, in particular all the main stakeholders in the region, must support Turkey's efforts to protect its population and fight terrorism" President of the European Commission
President of the European Commission
The President of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission ― the executive branch of the :European Union ― the most powerful officeholder in the EU. The President is responsible for allocating portfolios to members of the Commission and can reshuffle or dismiss them if needed...
José Manuel Barroso said that Turkey has a right to defend herself. He further added that they condemned PKK's attack.