Turkey wants talks with U.S., Iraq on PKK

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Turkish officials Monday expressed interest in holding talks with U.S. and Iraqi officials on reining in militants with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told reporters on the sidelines of a visit by Miguel Angel Moratinos, his Spanish counterpart, that he backed a similar proposal shared by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

The talks, said Babacan, "could be important with respect to sharing intelligence and coordinating military activity," Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported.

U.S. intelligence officials share information with Turkey regarding the activity of PKK rebels in northern Iraq. That cooperation came under scrutiny earlier this year when it emerged Turkey may have shared U.S. intelligence with Iranian officials who also are concerned about PKK activity.

The U.S. State Department lists the PKK as a terrorist organization. It seeks an autonomous Kurdish state in parts of Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran.

Turkey has blamed Iraq for failing to take appropriate measures against the group, and lawmakers in Ankara earlier this month extended a mandate permitting cross-border raids into Iraq in pursuit of the group.