American troops have clashed with Turkish Kurd rebels based in northern Iraq, the Turkish authorities say. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the clashes between US forces and PKK rebels took place on Sunday. His comments followed Turkish media reports that an Iraqi Kurd was killed when PKK rebels fired on US troops and Iraqi Kurdish fighters. The US-led coalition press office in Baghdad confirmed there had been an incident, but gave no details.
"I can say no more."
Mr Gul, speaking to reporters in Ankara before leaving for a visit to Rome, said there were clashes involving US troops, Iraqi Kurdish fighters and the PKK. He said some US helicopters were also sent.Last month, Sunday’s are the first known clashes between US forces and PKK rebels. Turkey and the US agreed on an action plan to eradicate the PKK, which is thought to have around 5,000 members living in northern Iraq. Details of the plan have not been released, but a US official said at the time that any military action would be carried out by US troops.
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