Turkish tank exercises on border with Iraq

(27 Oct 2007) SHOTLIST near Ikizce, Sirnak Province 1. Wide of Mount Cudi 2. Smoke on Mount Cudi, smoke rising from the area where tank shell impacted, smoke rising from another spot 3. Military position 4. Wide shot of the hill, with smoke slowly rising from the area where the shell impacted 5. Mid of smoke rising 6. Soldiers marching STORYLINE Turkey carried out military exercises in Sirnak Province on Saturday, using a tank to fire shells at mock targets on the hills. AP Television News footage showed smoke billowing from the area where the shells impacted on Mount Cudi, near the village of Ikizce. Turkish soldiers were also seen training nearby. The Turkish military presence remained heavy in the border area on Saturday, with regular patrols securing roads and checkpoints. Turkish officials have been frustrated by the failure of both US forces in Iraq and Iraqi forces to stop the Kurdish separatist attacks, which have claimed 42 lives in Turkey this month alone. Prime Minister Racep Tayyp Erdogan said on Saturday Turkey will take steps to fight Iraq-based Kurdish rebels when needed, regardless of international pressure. Turkey has been under intense pressure from the United States, Iraq and other countries to refrain from a cross-border offensive against Kurdish rebels, which they say will destabilise the region. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...