VOA常速英语2008年-Turkish Offensive in Northern Iraq Enters Third

By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
23 February 2008

Turkish military officials say five soldiers and at least 44 Kurdish rebels have been killed since a Turkish ground offensive into northern Iraq began late Thursday. Ankara accuses Kurdish Workers Party separatists of using bases in Iraq to launch attacks against government troops in Turkey. Dorian Jones has details from Istanbul.

Turkish forces backed by fighter planes and helicopters continued their operation against bases of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq Saturday.

In a statement, the Turkish army said at least 44 Kurdish rebels and 5 soldiers had been killed in the fighting. The PKK says it killed 20 Turkish soldiers.

The conflicting claims could not be independently verified because of the mountainous and sparsely¹ populated region where the fighting occurred.

In a statement on Friday Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the incursion has limited goals.

Mr. Erdogan said this operation is to protect the Turkish people.  He said once the military achieves its goal of destroying the PKK's logistical and psychological support, the forces will withdraw.
 
Mr. Erdogan said he had informed President Bush ahead of the operation.

No official figure has been given on the size of the incursion or its duration, although Turkish media reports claim up to 10,000 soldiers have entered Iraq.

But a statement by the Turkish army released on its web page criticized the media for exaggerating the number of soldiers involved, claiming it has caused unnecessary international tension. 

Pressure is growing on Turkey amid concerns the incursion could destabilize Iraq. U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice advised caution.

"Stability and progress for Iraq is in the interests of Turkey and so everyone should keep in mind that nothing should be done to destabilize what is a fragile but improving situation in Iraq," she said.
 
But Turkey claims the operation is necessary ahead of an expected spring offensive by the Kurdish rebels.  Ankara says up to three thousand PKK members are using the semi autonomous² Iraqi Kurdish enclave as a base to launch attacks against Turkey.

The PKK has been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984. Last autumn, about 50 Turkish soldiers and civilians³ were killed in a spate⁴ of PKK attacks. Until now Turkish operations against the rebels has been largely confined to air strikes, aided by U.S. intelligence. But with Turkish soldiers entering Iraq there are fears that the conflict could involve Iraqi Kurdish forces. Iraqi Kurds are a valuable U.S. ally. Pressure is expected to continue to mount on Turkey to end its operation as soon as possible.

1 sparsely   

adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地

参考例句：

• Relative to the size, the city is sparsely populated. 与其面积相比，这个城市的人口是稀少的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The ground was sparsely covered with grass. 地面上稀疏地覆盖草丛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 spate   

n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵

参考例句：

• Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area.警察正在调查这一地区发生的大量盗窃案。
• Refugees crossed the border in full spate.难民大量地越过了边境。