BAGHDAD (CIHAN) - The New Iraqi government, which took over sovereignty from US-led occupation today, included the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in its list of terrorist organizations.
The PKK, with its militants operating in Northern Iraq, was added to the list of terrorist organizations, according to a statement from Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allavi`s spokesman Cercis Hürmüz Sade on Monday. Spokesman Sade told the Cihan News Agency that the designation of the PKK/Kongra-Gel as a terrorist organization was based on the decision of Iraq to carry on good relations with its neighbors.
US President George W. Bush pledged that his administration was ready to cooperate with Turkey and the new Iraqi government to eradicate the PKK militants hiding in the mountainous Northern Iraqi region.
Turkey has been seeking to persuade the US to expel the outlawed pro-Kurdish PKK terrorist organization which is hiding in camps in the Kandil Mountains in Northern Iraq.
Turkish intelligence sources believe that nearly 4000-5000 PKK/KADEK terrorists are hiding in the region. However, sources say that some of the Kurdish rebels have recently infiltrated into Turkey to carry out terror attacks following the ending of the bilateral ceasefire by the PKK.
Turkish and US military and civilian officials reached an agreement last year that USA forces would take action against the PKK/KADEK/KONGRE-GEL militants hiding out in northern Iraq.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has repeatedly called on the US authorities to keep their commitment on the eradication of the PKK militants in northern Iraq.
The separatist activities of the outlawed PKK/KADEK terror organization claimed nearly 30 000 lives in the region. However, the insurgency of the terror organization has declined sharply following the capture of organization leader Abdullah Öcalan.