By NNN-KUNA,
Ankara : The Turkish government will ask parliament to extend by one year its mandate to carry out military strikes against separatist Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq.
“We have decided to ask the parliament again for a one-year authorization” when lawmakers return from summer recess on Oct 1, Cemil Cicek, a spokesman for the Turkish government told reporters after a cabinet meeting Wednesday.
“I believe the motion will be debated within the first few days of parliament reopening,” Cicek noted, adding that the previous mandate expires on Oct 17.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) dominates the 550-seat parliament and is likely to face no difficulty in securing approval for the extension.
The government won a one-year parliamentary authorization last Oct 17 for cross-border raids against Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebels who have led a 24-year-long bloody campaign against Ankara.