The Turkish military has said it cannot confirm reports it had sent several thousand troops into northern Iraq to combat Kurdish militants hiding there.
"I cannot confirm this report," said a General Staff official, referring to an agency report.
Earlier, a website reported that 50,000 men had been dispatched as the "first wave" of an invading force, but Ankara described the report as "disinformation".
There has been high media speculation of a possible cross-border operation against rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which uses mainly Kurdish northern Iraq as a base from which to launch attacks in Turkey.
More Turkish troops and tanks have recently been deployed to the mountainous border with northern Iraq, which Ankara regards as a particularly sensitive frontier.
The Turkish army has said its big build-up of troops and tanks in the area is a routine seasonal operation intended to combat PKK rebels inside Turkey or trying to enter.
Officials said that the army does stage "hot pursuit" raids sometimes chasing rebels across the border into Iraq.
Turkey's parliament, now in recess ahead of July 22 elections, would have to reconvene to authorise any serious military operation in Iraq. The United States and Iraq have both urged Turkey not to send troops, saying the problem could be best resolved by diplomatic means. They fear military action could destabilise the most peaceful and prosperous region of war-ravaged Iraq.
Source : www.itv.com
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