The Hindu : U.S.-Turkey impasse persists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 07, 2003

International

International

U.S.-Turkey impasse persists

ISTANBUL JULY 6. Turkey has failed to secure the release of 11 of its special forces detained by the U.S. in northern Iraq, Turkish officials said on Sunday, drawing out a diplomatic impasse between the two NATO allies.

The 11 Turkish soldiers were still under the U.S. custody and had been taken to Baghdad, despite earlier reports that some had been released, sources said. The U.S. military had released some civilians detained in the raid in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah on Friday, but said the Turkish special forces were not among those released.

The Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had said on Saturday that some of the soldiers detained had been released, but acknowledged on Sunday they were still in U.S. custody.

Mr. Erdogan said he would discuss the incident with the U.S. Vice-President, Dick Cheney, later on Sunday.

``We're in continuous contact'' with the United States, Mr. Erdogan told reporters, saying Turkey was determined to bring the standoff to an end. ``The positive atmosphere between the United States shouldn't be overshadowed by this.'' — AP

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