ANKARA - Turkey on Friday called on the United States to urgently put an end to the operation against Tal Afar, protect civilian people, not to use extreme force and provide foodstuff and health aid to the people.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said U.S. forces launched an operation against the insurgents as of Thursday, recalling that the operation caused damage to civilian people including Turkmens who constitute majority of the population in the city.
Tan said high ranking initiatives were undertaken with U.S. Embassy in Ankara, White House, U.S. State and Defense Departments after the instructions given by Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Emphasizing that the news coming from Tal Afar were disturbing and Turkey expressed deep concern over the developments, Tan said Turkey called on U.S. to urgently put an end to the operation against Tal Afar, protect civilian people, not to use extreme force and provide the people with foodstuff and health aid.
``We conveyed U.S. authorities that we expect extreme attention be paid soon in line with our sensitivity,`` Tan said.
Tan said Turkey continued to monitor the developments closely.
Iraqi Turkmen Front officials say around 120 people lost their lives and more than 200 people were injured during the clashes in the city which is currently under siege.
Officials said several dead bodies were sent to morgue but some of them were still on the streets.
Nobody is allowed to enter the city, officials said stating that the situation was calm on Friday.
Officials stressed that no aid convoy, even from the Turkmen Front, was allowed to enter the city.
(AY-ULG) 10.09.2004