The US secretary of state, Condoleeza Rice, today urged Iraq and Turkey to work with America to stop Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.
Rice made the comments after making a visit to the oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Her appearance was interpreted as indicating increased American concern for a region once regarded as stable.
Last night, a group of 300 Turkish troops crossed into Kurdish territory and moved 2-3km into Iraq, reported Reuters. On Sunday, Turkish forces deployed 50 fighter jets to attack camps in north Iraq which they believe are bases for members of the Kurdish rebel group, the PKK.
Rice moved to support the elected governments against the PKK today, making it clear the US supported efforts to quash all rebel movements. She said it was a "Turkish decision" to act but "no one should do anything that threatens to destabilise the north".
Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said the US, Iraq and Turkey shared a common goal of making sure there was no "PKK terrorist activity," including cross-border attacks against the Turks.
Rice's trip was also designed to bring attention to the reduction in violence in Iraq that the Bush administration largely attributes to the increase in US forces this year.
Attacks in Iraq are at their lowest levels since 2003, finally opening a window for reconciliation among rival sects, said US Lieutenant General Ray Odierno, the second in command in Iraq.
Kirkuk is a coveted city for the Shia-dominated Iraqi government in Baghdad and the Kurdish government in Irbil. Kurds want to incorporate the city into their self-rule area, but the idea has met stiff resistance from Arabs, delaying a referendum on the issue that is required under the constitution.