Gul’s Iraq visit aims to “liquidate” PKK rebels- official

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s current visit to Iraq aims to “liquidate” Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters, a foreign relations official in the party said on Monday. “With the assistance of the United States, Turkey is forcing the party to lay down their arms. This is an attempt to liquidate the PKK…,” Ahmed Daneez told IraqiNews.com news agency. “There is an agreement between Iraq, the United States and Turkey to achieve the latter’s goals. There is also a willingness to involve and include the Kurdistan region in this agreement,” Daneez said. Gul arrived today on an official visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the first by a Turkish head of state to neighboring Iraq in 33 years. Earlier today, a source close to the Turkish president said that Gul is scheduled to meet with his Iraqi counterpart, Jalal al-Talabani, and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during the visit that will last until Tuesday. Gul will discuss issues of mutual concern with Iraqi officials, including the contentious issue of the PKK rebels, the source noted. SS (P) 1