Turkish raids 'killed hundreds'

Turkish forces have killed hundreds of Kurdish rebels and struck more than 200 targets in northern Iraq in the past 10 days, the Turkish military has said.

Up to 175 rebels were killed on 16 December alone, the military statement added. More cross-border air raids were reported on Tuesday.

There has been no word on casualty figures from the Iraqi authorities.

Turkey blames rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for launching attacks on Turkey from bases in Iraq.

In another development, the Turkish military said it had killed five Kurdish rebels - including two women - in an operation inside Turkey on Tuesday.

In a statement on its website, the military said helicopter gunships had been used by Turkish forces in the operation on Mount Kupeli in Sirnak province, close to the Iraqi border.

Iraq incursions

Ankara approved cross-border raids on PKK bases in October, saying the Iraqi government and its US backers were not doing enough to halt attacks.

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