Turks, Kurdish Rebels in Major Clash

ANKARA, Turkey - The Turkish army clashed with Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq in their deadliest battle in eight months, and the government vowed Oct. 5 to fight the rebels at full force. Fifteen soldiers and at least 23 insurgents were killed, the military said. Twenty more soldiers were wounded, the government said. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned early to Ankara from an official visit to Turkmenistan to lead an emergency security meeting, and President Abdullah Gul canceled a planned visit to France on Oct. 5. "Whatever the cost, the fight will go on full force," Gul told reporters before meeting with the chief of the military. Outraged Turks demonstrated in the streets in several cities, politicians denounced the rebels, and images of grieving families of fallen soldiers covered the... [read full story]