Turkey says ready to help Iraq oust Kurdish fighters

ANKARA: Turkey on Monday said it was ready to help the Iraqi government oust Kurdish fighters from the disputed city of Kirkuk.

Ankara, which fears independence moves by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) could spark similar moves by its own Kurdish minority, hailed the Iraqi forces' operation to clean up Kirkuk from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). 

"We are ready for any form of cooperation with the Iraqi government in order to end the PKK presence in Iraqi territory," the Turkish foreign ministry said.

Iraq's National Security Council on Sunday said it viewed as a "declaration of war" the presence of "fighters not belonging to the regular security forces in Kirkuk", including fighters from the PKK. 

On Monday, Iraqi forces seized a key military base, an airport and an oil field from Kurdish fighters in a major operation after tensions have mounted since a controversial September 25 independence referendum, which irked Baghdad as well as neighbouring Turkey and Iran. 

Turkey fiercely opposed the referendum and slammed it as null and void.

The foreign ministry said it is warning the Kurdistan regional government "not to add to the grave mistakes it has made in recent times." 

"Those who help the PKK terror group ... find safe haven in this region will be held responsible also by us."

Turkish authorities said Ankara would now talk to the central government in Baghdad rather than Iraqi Kurdish leaders, with whom they had forged close ties in the past.

The PKK, which has waged an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984, is listed as a terror group by Turkey and much of the international community including the United States.

The referendum was held in three provinces of the autonomous Kurdish region and also in adjacent Kurdish-held areas, including Kirkuk, which are claimed by both Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan.

In the wake of the non-binding poll, which was overwhelmingly won by the 'Yes' camp, Ankara has repeatedly told the KRG the key Habur border crossing would be closed but this has yet to come into force.

Meanwhile, Turkey's top National Security Council (MGK) on Monday advised the government that "the process of closing Turkish air space to the KRG should start," after a meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It did not give further details.

Turkish carriers have already suspended their flights to Iraqi Kurdistan, although this was in line with an order from Baghdad rather than a reprisal from Ankara.

The MGK also suggested that a process of the Iraqi government taking over the Iraqi Kurdish side of the border crossing with Turkey should begin.