The kurdish people have had their land carved up by empires passing through over time. Since the fall of Saddam, the country that has brutalised and killed more kurds than any other nation is Turkey.
That is the same Turkey that tourists visit on holiday, blissfully unaware of the human rights abuses perpetrated on the kurds by the government of Turkey funded by tourist spending.
BOYCOTT TURKEY.

s, london, london

Hi guys.
Extermination of PKK is inevitable. Perhaps, people should think this way, there is huge weapon trade over there. Moreover, the heroin traffic which means there is a great deal of industry\people benefiting with this terrorism, some called rebellion stuff. We just need to wait US decide whats good (best case for US) for the region. It is likely to keep the region for Turkey. Much moderate and submissive country to US. Can’t you see guys? Winners decide the best for the region.
Some history, who came to Anatolia 1000 years ago? Everybody knows it. Who did rule the region for over 1000 years? Whose land is that? Maybe its merciful Turkish attitude allowing other ethnicities to live, unlike Americans did to local native Indians in the states (just in this 200 years period). As you all know, all of the natives exterminated for the good of Americans. Why doesn’t any other nation declare this as genocide? Because they are winners. So..come on guys!!! Some macro level thinking, eh?

Lodus, hobart,

The existence of Kurdistan is not the issue, the issue here is that the population of kurds is massive and therefore there has to be a place for them to live in : wether that be the middle east or America, however the argument is how does it affect the current populations. All peacefull jews should have a right to live in the holy lands with the palestinians. By, no means should thier be any prefrence over one nationality. The irish struggle is an old struggle but in thier humility atleast they have come to accept and live in peace with thier neighbours, this is the example that we should take. God bless the irish people, they have neither ethnic cleansed a whole population like that of the zionist jews, nor are they bombing regions like that of the turks or killing innocent ones like that of the PKK, if the kurds are asking for an independent Kurdistan , next you will have the Balouchi's asking for and independent Balouchistan. God bles the english people in thier effort of peace.

Sakina, leicester , united kingdom

Let us all try to be fair with eachother. I am a Turkish nationalist, not a fascist and my thoughts regarding pkk would not be objective. But at least I try to look at the situation with a wider point of view. Turkey has never said they would be attacking civilian targets in northern Iraq. He said pkk camps would be the targets if such an attack takes place. As pkk is a known terrorist organization, why are you guys against Turkey's attack? You have not objected when US and UK attacked Iraq. Was Iraq a terrorist state? Were there any WMDs in Iraq? Have you, after all, managed to bring democracy to Iraqies or only death to thousands of innocents? US can attack Afghanistan and Iraq over some alleged terrorist attacks in Newyork, but Turkey has to show restraint. Why, because superpower would not want the most stabilized part of Iraq to be destabilized. Listen guys, Turkey has always been judged for it's past actions. Why don't you have some of your own medicine Be fair and see the truth

Demir Bukulmez, Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey is very understanding and peacefull country..but some people who named PKK don't want to peace...some of the kurds which living in turkey (not PKK) supports turkey republic about terrorists because PKK killing them so...some kurd soliders in turkish army died in fight...

and a turk never behead a kurd and won't behead..They want to sepherate turkey ..Turkey and Kurdistan...it will never be :S

ibrahim, mersin, turkey

How many Kurds live in Turkey, and how many of them support PKK? I really wonder! Well, this organization, as I claim to be terrorist, is around more more than 20 years.. The western World including the US calls PKK terrorist, yet Brusk Kendal thanks to the US. For what reason?

Turkey is a mixture of ethnic origins, as any other country. It wll be there like this forever, whether you like it or not.

Ahmet Zengin, Corum, Turkey

hi to all world.i think andy must be a turk.i dont think an objective person would blame any kurdish who just want to live in peace and in own culture and language.and for that we will anything for our nation and homeland which is divided among 4 countries-turkey.irak.iran.syria..shame on humanism .35 million stateless kurdish nation-finally we will be free in the future.we will never be a turk or arab or persian ..proud to be kurd ever...FREE GREAT KURDISTAN..thanks alot to USA and GB

brusk kendal, amede, north kurdistan

The Kurdish strugglers will settle with acceptance of simple and basic rights:
1- Recognition of Kurdish political and cultural identity, inscribed in the constitution.
2-inclusion of Kurdish language in Public Education
3-Freedom of all political prisoners.
4-abolition of village-guard system
Every humanbeing with slightes dignity should accept and support these rights

Hemin, Guthenburg, Sweden

Kurds are struggling for their independence and their existence as a nation, every Turkish have to accept that. I think it's irrational Turkey to beg for EU accession when it tries to choke a whole nation...This is not a European profile, it reveals whether Turkey is a modern civilized country.

Andrew, Birmingham,

To Andy

Over the last years 3.5 Million Kurds from Turkey fled to
Europe. They all will tell you horror stories of their pitfull life
in Turkey. An independent Kurdistan is taking full shape
in he north of Iraq. With their vast deposits of oil wealth
it won't be too long before all the Kurds unite in one country.

A Salama, London, UK

You must get your translations right before you convey them. We turks do not say ''Happy is the man who calls himself a Turk''. Properly translated it actually means joy to who calls himself a turk proudly. This has nothing to do with any other race. It just means you should be proud to be a TURK.

Ozhan, London,

you europian dont really know much and most of you are racist when it comes to your own benefits and your own country..if you are so concerned about kurds and their refused right why dont you just give up some of your own lands for others..how dare you can talk about turkey and turkish army after whole wolrd saw what US and British did in middle east..and what is still israel and palestine fighting over if it was so easy just to give up..

Sane, Ä°stanbul, Turkey

"US census codes "011 British"

Ah yes. The famous coding system that lists people from Cornwall as NOT being British.

Better, by far, if the US keeps out of world affairs.

As for Turkey and the Kurds .... beware the Kurds. Bear in mind what the Turks did to the Armenians 90-odd years ago. You could be next.

Chris Palmer, Southampton, England

“How can they call us terrorists – we do not dispatch suicide bombers nor do we kill women and children,” Ishkanaz said.

I have turkish friends whose family, mostly comprised of women, children and elderly were killed by alleged PKK terrorists. Don't know what this guy is saying...

Just reading comments about this situation on various news websites it seems to me that there is a large portion of the international community with some sort of dislike or hatred or even animosity towards the Turks. I don't understand why...

citizen of the worlf, houston,

Turkey is a cosmopolite country. There are so many differene race in Turkey. So, what is the privilage of Kurds that we have to give them a land?? We are all brothers. Kurds, Alevi, Cherkes. SUnni, Abaza, Laz vs. is creating Turkey and there is no discrimination at all. If it was, why is most of the parlimentary members are Kurds?? We have economical problems there not discrimination. Kurdish militans spend their money for guns for 15 years insted for economy, if they spend their money in economy theywould've been solved their economic problems until now. Also do you know that PKK gets their money from drug and guns. If not please do wake up....

Filiz, London,

Turkey does what it wants and always gets it's way , it seems only the Kurds have the guts to stand up to Turkey.GO THE KURDS!!!!!

JOHN ALE, JHB,

I'm a Kurd.
10 years ago;they said that;there is not any Kurd in the world.
They used our culture and words and they denied us.They have a famous idiom; Happy is the man who calls himself a Turk.This mean is; other national can not be happy.I was embrassed why ı'm Kurd in Turkey 10 years ago.They worked for asimilation Kurds to Turk.Kurds does not want to war but they have to defend their identity and demand their rights.

A Kurd , Kerkük, Irak

The PKK's aims would be better realised if they devoted their efforts to doing all in their power to accelerate Turkey's entry into the EU.

Once an EU member the Kurdish minority in eastern Turkey have every right to politically campaign for autonomy and ultimately for independence.

Bill, Stavanger, Norway

kurdish people have best live in turkey now,but the terror group pkk dont allowe.

ali, tabriz, iran

Your article was translated into Turkish and appeared in Turkish dailies. There will be more outrage towards Britons holidaymaking in Turkey now and more boycots for foreign products. Thanks for informing us.

Ertan Koc, istanbul, Turkey

Turkey denies the fact that kurdish people had always been there (at least since 4000 years). They have theire own language and own culture. Sad but true, they, both Turksih and Kurdish people, do fight against each other, although both are Muslims. And I don´t support the theory that USA has to be blamed for the PKK. Turkey made some mistakes in the past. They didn´t respect the fact, that kurdish people are an own race, that they have their own language and culter, etc. What the USA did, like they always do, is that they studied history, analysed the situation in the easter Turkey and in the other states (Iran, Iraq, Syria) and put salt on wounds of thousands of Kurds. If Turkey didn´t do the mistakes, USA wouldn´t have get the opportunity to create the PKK.
What I can´t understand is, why are they only fighting against Turkey? Don´t they want a piece of Iran and Iraq too? Go and get your land from Iraq and sit down. Why do you need a land as bis as France? Be free in Turkey and be

Kati, berlin, germany

Muhammad, London: Long Live Independent Kashmir!!!

Yes! Provided there is an independent Shia Kashmir in hill dominated areas of Kashmir!

At the same time, please get out of all other places!

Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India

It is easy for you to say "Give them whatever they want, give them a chunk of your lands". Sure, why not!!! Then the US should give Texas, Arizona and half of California to Mexicans, since no one is speaking English there anymore.

Sibel, Florida, US

Why some people call it as ''kurdish rebells'' instead of calling them '' terrorists'' ? It is what the terrorists do to kill innocence people and to kill little babbies as the kurdish terrorists do; therefore, they can not be called as rebells, they are the real terrorists who become beastly. There will never be an independent kurdistan... This will never be realized as long as Turkish People live. That is, this is a dream of some incapable that can never come true.
''Happy is the man who calls himself a Turk''

nese SENEL, konya, turkey

If you wear some kind of uniform or insignia you are a legal combatant. If you don't, you are an illegal combatant - a terrorist. These are the rules of war as laid down in the Geneva conventions.

Eugene, Chester, England

If every minority in every country in the world were to take up arms to carve up a new state imagine how the world would be! A Catalunia in Spain+France, a Scotland in Scotland, a Samiland in parts of Norway+Finland+Russia, an Eskimoland in Alaska+ Canada,a Sioux state in North America and Canada ... and so on.

It's clear that the question of minorities in countries have to be dealt with in a peaceful and orderly fashion, with ground rules set by internationalorganizations such as the UN.

The PKK is a bona fide terrorist organization. It's hurting the democratic progress in Turkey and fueling ethnic hatred. IMHO Kurds would be better off without it. It's all too easy to take up arms and begin shooting randomly at people. It's much much more difficult to participate in the democratic struggle and make slow but steady progress. I think Kurds ought to look into the Martin Luther King's civil rights movement. PKK's way is a dead end, just like IRA's way was in UK.

ali, Istanbul, Turkey

turks all love turkey so much that at least great numbers all cant wait to come and live in germany and britain and do. as soon as they join theE.U. there will be loads of room in turkey so the can give some to the kurds as most of the turkish population will want to come to the western parts of the E.U..
i think that we in the uk should keep out of the mid-east it a snake pit. and could poison us to death

max bernstein, london, uk.

I am Kurd and i'll be PKK as long as i live.Whoever doesn't like as can call us whatever they like.One day our country will be free from Barbaric Turks

Cahoo, Eastbourne, East Sussex

For all those who are in favor of kurdish independence, there are other conflict zones in the world where oppressed people are fighting for their independence. If Kurds deserve their independence, so do the Kashmiris!!! Long Live Independent Kashmir!!!

Muhammad, London,

I don't understand which kurdistan wich Kurdish people you are talking about.

Don't you see, the US hunger for Oil sources ? In this triangle in the middle of Iran-Iraq-Turkey there are carzy petrol sources and US never let any country, any people, any race to live there in peace.

How these poor terrorists can leave without food ? how they can attack to innocent people without arms, without bombs ....? where they find money and courrage ? Nobody can move there without permission of USA even a cat......

Please wake up ! there is no conflict between peoples all is the provocation made by US Gov. which is very angry to Turkey since the beginning of their Iraq invasion. Because Turkey did not participate this war, by not permitting them to enter Iraq by using our country.

Murat Bey, Istanbul, Turkey

Several asked what Britain meant. US Census Code 011 means of British stock. So if you could use the US Census Code designation for ethnicity it would help. If people consider US Census Codes racist, say so. Search: US census codes "011 British" for the list.

Old Atlantic, Atlantic City, NJ

Why oh why does the UK tv insist on calling these terrorists rebels??? Double standards from the West again! Us Turks have always stood alone and we always will!

Our soldiers fight to uphold Ataturks beliefs and for the love of our nation, not because they are bribed to join the army in local malls as in USA.

LONG LIVE TURKEY!

G.Boynak, London, UK

Andy,

Turks never gave the shelters and food aid to the kurdish who fled from iraq. there are 20 million kurdish who lives in north kurdistan(turkish part) So they had helped to their brothers. turkish government can not help to its public. remember the earthquake? they are not that strong.
next a few decade is for kurds in the middle east. it is their time. They suffered enough from their enemies which surrounded them. World has been changed. Wake up!

aytek, san francisco, usa

A truly independent and free Kurdistan, recognised by the UN, is on the cards and whether it likes it or not, Turkey just better get used to it.

After all, the Kurds are only asking for a tiny fraction of what Turkey is demanding for Tuirkish Cypriots and its colonists who are occupying the north of Cyprus for the past 33 years.

P Anastasi, London,

Could your correspondent be clearer about what he/she means by a Briton? This term has been much abused and devalued. Is it someone who has been granted residency? Or perhaps a Kurd (and probably an Iraqi or Turkish national) who has been given British Nationality by the national sweet shop that the Home Office has become. Or is it a native of these islands, from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? The latter are the only people to whom the term Briton can apply.

Andrew Parfitt, London,

Turkey is big country and Turkish and Kurdish people are living happinessly in there. PKK is a terrorist group and will perish as soon as possible. Everybody will see this soon...

Özgür, Istanbul, Turkey

As a firm believer in the principles and constitution laid down for Turkey by Ataturk, I do not see that there is any way on this green earth that any part of Turkey could be given over to form any part of Kurdistan, independent or not. If its in Turkey then its Turkish, simple.
The tragedy of so many young Turkish men dying in the east is unpardonable, and after attacks on purely civilian tagets in Izmir and other holiday resorts, yes I'd say the PKK are terrorists!
We bang on about the 'war on terror' but when it comes to someone else doing a similar thing on their own borders we wring our hand and condemn them. Double standards or what?
BG

Bill Glanvill, Horsham, Sussex

“How can they call us terrorists – we do not dispatch suicide bombers nor do we kill women and children,”. Pure lie. They -killed thousands of civilians including children and women-, -dispatched suicide bombers- in public places. Just google "PKK attacks". Or simply see an old letter of Human Rights Watch "http://www.hrw.org/press98/nov/italy-ltr.htm" about the PKK (just an update if you read the letter: Ocalan is imprisoned in Turkey with perfect health condition. Living a far better life than any terrorist responsible for the death of more than 30000 people).

Sukru, Ankara,

I condemn the British media for calling the PKK rebels or fighters instead of the more appropriate term 'terrorists'.
Every country in Europe has the PKK on their list of terrorists, and this is perfectly justfied - 38,000 innocent civilian men, women and chldren have been killed in random bombings and shootings.
And yet, the British Media, claiming impartiality, are creating a romantic image of the PKK as freedom fighters struggling against oppressive Turkish authoriies. NOTHING could be further from the truth.
These people are attempting to convince the world that they are trying win back a traditional homeland. But these are ligitimate lands of Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq and the PKK is trying to usurp them by force and political backmail.
And as I see it, they are being helped in their cause by the British media. Would they use the same terms when talking about al Qaeda?
Strange that when they hurt you they are torrorists and when they hurt us they are just rebels...

Nilda Karoglu, Rugby, England

Hala Jaber: very good account of the PKK activities on the ground!

Kurds have been one of the most reliable allies of the US, UK and others. Turkey also has been another ally though to a lesser extent.

So US, UK and others will have pacify both the allies not to escalate the differences into full scale war! Restrain on both sides, especially with Iran on radar, will be the best way to move on.

In case of independent Kurdistan, it is inevitable and better from long range view to have in it parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran and more. This Kurdistan will be one of the most reliable allies of the west for a long time!

However, it will be prudent for the US and allies to keep away as much as possible from the long battles between Turkey and Turks, Shias and Sunnis and some other heavily divided sections in many Muslim nations. They have to sort out themselves without much outside interventions.
Regards,

Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India

Why can't Turks accept that Kurds want to have their independance? It is the same attitude that leads to Russians occupying Chechnya, Chinese ruling Tibet, and Lincoln sacrificing a Million young Americans to keep control over states that wanted to go their own way. The politicians are only interested in keeping as much territory and people under their control, since this determines their power. There is nothing in it for the common man. The Turkish worker and peasant would rather live in a Turkey without "mountain Turks", and would resent to be controlled in a "Greater Russia" as a "peninsula Russian". just as the Kurds prefer to be ruled by own kind.
Whatever happened to tolerance towards your neighbors and the acceptance of selfdetermination?

Werner Hoermann, Newburyport, MA, USA

We are in 21.century maybe Turkey should think in a different way now.War does not do any good for anybody.It is really strange Turkey never talk about peace they always want to fight.I do believe that independent Kurdistan will happen...

Erkan, coventry,

These terrorists are laughable to say the least. Only a few days ago, I watched a news interview between PKK military leader (according to Al-Jazeera) Murat Karayilan and Al-jazeera correspondant Hoda Abdel-Hamid, where Karayilan claims that the fight will only end when rights are given to Kurdish citizens in Turkey. PKK's objective is some-what blatent, especially after looking at the article above, they are not fighting for rights, they are after a big chunk of land from Turkey. When Ishkanaz denies the fact that the PKK are a terrorist organisation at all sums it all up really. Ironic Isn't it, that only a few weeks ago the PKK killed over 10 innocent (Kurdish) Turkish citizens, amongst them children, and they say they have not killed a child or a women, and therefore should be exempt of being called a terrorist organisation? Please. Not long ago the PKK used to kill innocent people on a daily basis for not supporting them against the Turkish army.

Chengis Onur, London, United Kingdom

Give them their own state where they will have representation. If they are a problem why keep them as part of your countries?, save the bloodshed, they clearly are unhappy!.

Emanuel, London, UK

The government should issue a statement that it views the PKK as a terrorist organisation and any Brits, who join it, are therefore viewed as terrorists.

David Ryan, Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM

Unless the Kurds are given equal rights and opputunities the pkk vows not to stop its armed struggle.Turkey may have given the Kurds a few blankets but believe me they've taken lives in return. Saddam may have been barbaric but at least he didnt hide it ,Turkey is bringing much more oppression upon the Kurds and asking the European Union and U.S.A to justify its actions. The Guerillas have hit upon a very important factor about Turkish Special Forces(JITEM) dressed in their clothing. Thanks to FT for showing this as most other news agencies who have fascists working within them have always hid or censored these kinds of quotes.(read story of Ugur Kaymaz) DOWN WITH THE FASCIST ULTRA NATIONALIST TURKISH GOVERNMENT!

Botan, London , UK

PKK is not a reason,PKK is a result

befor 20 years turks sad that there is no nation called with Kurdish. PKK is just one of the results of this denial.and turkish goverment still don't let kurds learn their language and their history in the schools...and ı still dont know how to read and write in my language ı exactly dont know even how to speak

No friends but the mountains...

Kawa Jan ÅžERVAN, Amed, Turkey

The Kurds who fled to "Turkey" fled to the Kurdish territory claimed by the Turkish state, because there were already Kurds there, not because the Turks were interested in helping them.

An independent Kurdistan will happen. Perhaps not VERY soon, but it will happen, no matter what any of these governments do. There are far too many Kurds, and they have far too much sense of themselves as a distinct people, for them to be forever divided and marginalized among four states (Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria) in which they are suppressed minorities.

Erik, Floyd, VA, USA

An independent kurdistan! it is not possible, will never happen. If 10.000 more Turkish tropps will need to be sacrified, Turkey will. There are 3-4 million kurdish people living in Istanbul. Do they ask for independence? PKK is a big gang who brainwashes people and targets teenagers to join them, threatening their families. They traffic most drugs coming from asia to europe. PKK has a lot of support in London and other capitals of europe where kurdish population is high. This conflict will never die, it's too compilcated. That region is doomed.

Batuhan, London,

Good report. Now the race, not the religious card, is in play. Kurds are Indo-Europeans, or "Aryans", to use a politically incorrect, but accurate word. The are blood kin to the Iranians, Northern Syrians, and, of course, what remains of ancient Lydia, in modern Turkey. Two other races are involved, i.e., the Turks, and the Semites. Will there be a "Kurdistan"? Perhaps, though not the way the Kurds perhaps envision. When the Muslims in the Middle East are at peace, with neo-colonialists, (like the US and the Brits), tossed out, I believe an autonomous "Kurdistan" will exist in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria, with loyalty to each nation in which it resides. If they can avoid involvement with the Americans, despite their blandishments, and with the Israelis, whom all Muslims despise, they will be welcomed back into the Muslim fold eventually, because, like the Serbs, they are a great warrior people. And All Muslims remember..."Saladin was a Kurd".

Max Cadenhead, Ft. Lauderdale, , FL, USA

Does anyone know what a 'Briton' is anymore...Oh, and are we still proud to be 'British' ?? I think we've completely lost our identity along the way somewhere in this wonderful multi-cultural (segregated), PC (yawn) country we've created!

Billy Bop, london,

thank u very much and ,i am totaly egree with you andy!!

cengiz, edinburgh, SCOTLAND

PKK is terrorist organization such as the other terrorist organizations in the world. They are killing not only soldiers but also innocent civilians, women, children, babies and oldies. They are also killing the Kurdish people. It shows that they are not representing Kurds. All of them will be punished one by one without missing anyone with unexpected ways. They will see this in the future. It is obvious that No organizations are successful by terrorist activities. Turks are now in need of world's support against this terrorist attacks. Dont forget one day you may be faced with terrorist activities in your country in the future. We, all people in the world, should fight against terrorists without looking their views. Peace at home peace in the world.

Ali, brussels, belgium

First thanks for this good Report

Pkk are not Terrorist , The Turkish Goverment are Terrorist , the kurds who live in Turkey they have no right , they cann't even speak there own language, becuase of the Turkish Facshist regime ,

Turkey also Killed Armenian 1.5 million been killed by them , and suprisingley they Want to join Europe, all Europe country they need very strongly opose the Turkey to join European Union because they are Terrorist .
United Kindom should never let Turkey Terrorist country to join EU .
If Turkey want to go to Kurdistan , All Kurds , will fight them and teach them a lesson they never forget

Nabard , UK

nabard, Chester, United Kingdom

Please, stop trying to create sympathy for the TERRORIST PKK.
The Britons go and fight there are BRITISH KURDISH Why this reporter does not stress that???
Wake up Europe next thing Kurdish will ask for is a piece of land in Europe as they like to sit on somebody else's soil and beg for rights.
We won every piece of land with our blood in Turkey. Ataturk had to fight with Kurdish who were always a rebel and never wanted an organized country.In an organized instution Kurdish would have to wake up early and go to work. You know what they are lazy. They just like to live in the mountains and and have tea with the Reporters and beg for rights!!!

A.Akin, Bracknell, Berkshire

I think the government should find a peaceful solution instead of occupying north of Iraq.The solution is simple ;new constitution should guarantee of the Kurds rights.Besides this,Most of Nationalist people in Turkey should understand of the reality of the Kurdish problem which can only be solved by dialogue not by army solutions.

Serhat, Ankara, TURKEY

More guests for Guantanamo bay?

Farrukh, Woking, UK

They are NOT Britons joining the PKK.

Andy, Stockholm, England/Sweden

The hypocrisy of western countries like the US and Britain is disgusting. Why should the Kurdish people not have their rightful homeland?

Why should the Kosovo Albanians be given a piece of Serbia that was never theirs, but the Kurds, who have lived on the same land for centuries are denied their rightful homeland?

It was in fact colonials powers like Britain who carved up the borders of the Middle East in the 20'th century, creating most of the problems we see in the rgion today. Palestine, for example; Kuwait, which was carved off of Iraq, for another example. And then Kurdistan, which was pieced off among four countires: Turky, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

The problems in the region will continue until stateless peoples like the Palestinians and Kurds are given their rightful homelands. The policies pursued by the West are completely wrong, both morally and practically -- because they only continue to stoke the fires of conflict.

Gordon Arnaut, Toronto, Canada

Reaching larger numbers in North London, Kurds from Turkey will one day claim Harringey, Stoke Newington and Hackney too I suppose...

Suleiman Boztas, London, UK

We have to look at the roots of this conflict.
The PKK, whether you see it as a terrorist organization or not, is a product of the Turkish state itself. The existence of PKK is due to a wrong appraoch, which the Turkish state and several Turkish government have had towards the Kurds.
Since the emergence of the 'modern Turkish state' in the 1920s, Turks have been fighting, discriminating, intimidating every group of people, which does not consider itself to be Turkish. This is in fact the cause of the problem. The Kurds have been opressed, initmidated and discriminated for many decades. Besides, Turkish state have helped the creation of an culture, in which the dicrimination, intimidation and insultation of the Kurds (by the wide public) has become part of the daily life.
If the Turkish state has ever had the real intention to solve the Kurdish problem is a peaceful way, then PKK would not even have existed.
Therefore, EU and the U.S. should reconsider their stance on this issue.

Zana korda, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Kursds should learn to live in peace. We wont allow an independent Kurdistan. And Andy, thanks for your comment mate.

Atakan Vural, London, UK

Ahmet, you make it sound like the Turkish gave the Kurdish sanctuary from Saddam. The Turkish government and army have put kurdish people through hell!
Roughly 4000 kurdish vilages were burnt to the ground by Turkish troops killing many men, women and children. Everything about Kurdish was forbidden
How can Europe and America call the PKK terrorists when the Turkish army themselves are terrorist? The PKK fight for rights for the Kurdish people but Turkey refuses to talk with them. If you seen your village burnt and your rights were all taken away from you, would you not fight against it?
If your family were all murdered and you had nothing left, would you not go to the monutains to fight for your cause?

Jennifer, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Funny isn't it, that the Kurds have previously always been portrayed by our media as poor innocents who were shamelessly picked on by Sadam. Now all of a sudden they'e a bunch of terrorists threatening to de-stabilise Iraq? Surely Bush and Blair beat them to that some time ago?

Dave , Gloucester, England

The PKK took 8 soldiers hostage, in the photographs they are smiling and drinking tea. Have you seen what the Turkish army do when they catch PKK members? They behead them, they drag the bodies through villages tied to the back of Tanks, they dress the bodies in Turkish military uniforms, they burn the bodies, and they take photographs of all of this so they can brag about it! shall I go on... You can see it for yourself on YouTube, Kurdish-info.net and many other sites. How does the rest of the world fail to see this as inhumane??
http://www.kurdish-info.net/ read it for yourself, look at all the pictures and then decide who the terrorists really are

Jennifer, Belfast, Northern Ireland

I suspect that USA wants the Turks to clean out the pestie Kurds. The less of them,USA has better control of the rich oil region. {:-(

George Archers, toronto, canada

Free Kurdistan? Over my and 70 million Turks dead bodies...

Erin, UK,

Really, now. If we can take land from people to give to Jewish refugees, why can't we take land from Turkey for Kurdish refugees?

The U.S. could partition this "Kurdish Mandate" quite easily, being the ruler of the world. I mean, it's really our land to decide, just like Iraq.

Carter, Chicago, USA

Thank you very much Andy.

Ahmet, Ankara,

Where did the Kurds fled after a failed uprising against Saddam? They fled to Turkey. They were given shelter, food, blankets, tents and medical care. And now they dare to fight Turkey? Really disgusting.

Andy, Mannheim,

An independent Kurdistan will never happen.

Ali Akademir, Herts,