Iraq criticizes Turkey over U.S.-led air force

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -- Turkey is hurting both itself and Iraq by allowing a U.S.-led air force to continue patrolling a no-fly zone in northern Iraq from its territory, the speaker of Iraq's parliament said on Sunday.

Speaker Saadoun Hammadi said in a letter to the Turkish parliament that a six-month "extension of the mandate for the so-called Hammer Force contributes to the continuing aggression against Iraq."

"Instead, the Iraqi parliament hopes from neighboring Turkey to work for lifting unjust sanctions on Iraq," he said.

Hammadi described as "aggressive" the U.S. and British forces stationed at Turkey's Incirlik air base to enforce the no-fly zone to protect a Kurdish enclave from possible attack by Baghdad military.

"The American and British forces at Incirlik air base are launching daily aggression, bombing civilian installations and killing and injuring scores of innocent civilian people in northern and southern villages and cities," he said.

Hammadi said poverty and unemployment along the two countries' border had increased rapidly because of the presence of the U.S. and British force.

"A slow-down in trade exchange has caused Turkey to lose over $75 billion as affirmed by a number of Turkish officials," he said.

Relations between Baghdad and Ankara have been poor since Turkey allowed Western planes to use its bases. Baghdad also has criticized Ankara over repeated military incursions into northern Iraq to pursue rebels from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more Middle East news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Middle East

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.