Turkey growing impatient with PKK

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Turkish officials Tuesday said they would continue attacks in northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers' Party following a series of weekend skirmishes.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the military launched its fourth round of raids Tuesday following a battle between Turkish forces and the Kurdish rebels, or PKK, which left 17 soldiers dead Friday.

"This attack by the PKK from northern Iraq with heavy weaponry is a grave affair," said a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry. "We expect the government of neighboring Iraq to fulfill its responsibilities in this matter."

The PKK is a separatist movement seeking an autonomous Kurdish state in an area that includes parts of Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran. It is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.

Turkish military officials said their fighter jets launched raids on more than 20 PKK strongholds along the northern border with Iraq early Tuesday, Adnkronos International reported.

Lawmakers in Ankara Wednesday are scheduled to consider extending a mandate that permits incursions into Iraq to chase down PKK and other rebels.