The Iraqi government is ready for dialogue with Turkey to address its «legitimate security fears» from Kurdish rebels, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said, according to AP. Zebari made his comments Friday during a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, who told the Iraqi minister that Ankara expects more cooperation from Baghdad in fighting terrorism, according to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement. On Monday, Zebari said Turkey had massed 140,000 soldiers along the border _ a figure the U.S. disputed. Zebari said troop levels in the region were often increased during the spring and summer in response to increased activity by the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, which has been fighting for an independent Kurdistan within Turkey for decades. The PKK operates from bases in northern Iraq. Gul said in remarks published Saturday that Turkey has asked Washington for an explanation about allegations that separatist Kurdish guerrillas based in Iraq were being supplied with U.S. weapons.
