HIGHLIGHTS - Turkey launches ground operation vs PKK in Northern Iraq (UPDATED Feb.23)

-- TV channels and news agencies reported 10,000 troops were taking part in the cross-border offensive and the Turkish troops entered 10 km inside the Iraqi border. But CNN Turk reported 3,000 troops from special forces take part in the operation, citing security sources. Reports say the operation focused on the Hakurk region of northern Iraq.      

-- Turkish General Staff said 24 terrorists were killed and several others were wounded in clashes between terrorists and Turkish security teams on Friday. General Staff said in a statement it is estimated that at least 20 moreterrorists were rendered ineffective by artillery and helicopter gunships. Five Turkish soldiers died in clashes, it stated.   Â

The statement said a group of terrorists escaped to the southern part in the clash. The operation merely targeted terrorist organization, it reiterated. "Cross-border operation that was launched by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) against terrorist organization PKK in the north of Iraq as of 7 p.m. on February 21st, 2008 continues as it was planned," the statement said. Hideouts of terrorists were shelled by artillery and armed helicopters, it added   Â

-- Iraq and the coalition forces based in the country said couple of hundred Turkish troops are taking part in the operation. Turkey's military has only sent several hundred troops into a remote part of northern Iraq to hunt PKK, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Reuters on Friday.  Only a "few hundred" Turkish soldiers are taking part in an operation against PKK in northern Iraq, a senior military officer with coalition forces based in Baghdad said. Â

-- However, Turkish General Staff denied on Friday some new reports about the objective and the scope of the ground operation launched into north of Iraq against terrorist organization as well as the number of troops took part in the operation.

General Staff said in its website that several media organs aired news and archives footage that contradicted with the scope, objective and nature of the operation, including the number of troops, and that comments were made regarding these footage. It said they gave wrong messages to Turkish people and the international community, adding that they have the risk in some cases to lead to unnecessary tensions and expectations. It stated that information --except for given by the General Staff-- should not be given credit. General Staff also noted that terrorist organization released statements full of propaganda under cover of news agency, underlining that these statements should be disregarded.

-- Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said this operation started a new phase in the efforts to isolate PKK. Erdogan repeated that the operation's sole target is PKK. "Iraqi people are not our targets" he said. Erdogan said on Friday he had spoken by telephone on Thursday night with U.S. President George W. bush about Turkish troops' land offensive into northern Iraq.    

-- Oil prices headed back towards record highs Friday with New York crude nearing 99 dollars as the market reacted to Turkeys move into northern Iraq amid persistent concerns about supply, traders said.

-- The Turkish General Staff released the photos of the operation on its official website. The photos can be viewed here. (The site is in Turkish)   

-- Commanders in Ankara on alarm for the past 48 hours.

-- First confrontation with Peshmerge took place in Dohuk

-- Iran worried on Turkish operation in the northern Iraq

TURKISH GENERAL STAFF:     Â

-- "After the successful bombing, a cross-border ground incursion backed by the Air Force started at 1900 (1700 GMT)."                      Â

-- "Long-range weapons and Turkish Air Forces jets pounded targets between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on February 21st in order to neutralize members of the terrorist organization PKK/ KONGRA-GEL stationed in north of Iraq and to destroy organizational infrastructure in the region".

-- "Turkish Armed Forces, which paid significant attention to Iraq's territorial integrity and stability, will return to Turkey after it achieves the planned targets".

US: Â

-- White House said ''Turkey should limit Iraq incursion to precise targeting of PKK'', Reuters reported. 

-- The White House also declared it had been notified that Turkish troops were to enter northern Iraq to hunt Kurdish outlawed separatists and urged ankara to exercise restraint.

-- US military said they are aware that Turkish ground forces have entered Northern Iraq for operation of "limited duration". It also added that Turkey has given assurances that it will do "everything possible" to avoid civilian casualties in operation.

-- "The United States continues to support Turkeys right to defend itself from the terrorist activities of the PKK," rear Admiral Gregory Smith said in a statement sent to AFP.  Â

-- The United States "has encouraged Turkey to use all available means, to include diplomacy and close coordination with the government of Iraq, to ultimately resolve this issue." Â

IRAQ:

-- Turkish President Abdullah Gul called Iraqi President Jalal talabani on the phone on Thursday and informed him about the cross-border ground operation launched by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) against terrorist organization (in the north of Iraq). Presidency press center stated on Friday that Gul briefed talabani about the target of ground operation which TSK initiated on Thursday. 

-- Turkish President Abdullah Gul also invited his Iraqi counterpart Jalal talabani to Turkey in a telephone call Thursday night as he informed him of Ankaras ground operation in northern Iraq, Gul's office said Friday. On the other hand, Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari said Iraqi President Jalal talabani accepted Turkish President Abdullah Gul's invitation to Turkey but noted that the visit may not take place due to delicacy of the current situation.

-- Fouad Hussein, a spokesman for the semiautonomous Kurdish government, said the Kurdish Peshmerga forces had been put on alert.

EU: