Erdogan warns of sanctions against Iraq

ANKARA - Turkey is considering economic sanctions against Iraq over the presence of Kurdish rebel sanctuaries there, Anatolia news agency quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying Tuesday.

Adressing British businessmen at a London hotel, Erdogan said sanctions could take the form of export restrictions on vital products Turkey supplies to its southern neighbor, Anatolia reported.

Iraq "must cooperate in fighting terror," Erdogan said, and complained of Turkey's "good will being abused."

He cited Turkey's "important contributions" in supplying Iraq with power, water, food, household appliances and electronics.

Tension between Ankara and Baghdad has risen since a weekend attack by the terrorists Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on a Turkish military patrol along the border that killed 12 soldiers.

The attack came just four days after the Turkish government obtained parliamentary authorization to carry out cross-border military strikes into northern Iraq to hit PKK terrorists waging a bloody campaign since 1984.

10/23/2007 15:33 GMT

Tuesday, October 23, 2007