Subject: TURKEY-KURDS (S) [2] By AL PESSIN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/24/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176002 TITLE=TURKEY-KURDS (S) BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKISH FORCES PRESSED THEIR ASSAULT ON SEPARATIST KURDISH BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ FRIDAY FOR THE FIFTH DAY, WITH MORE BOMBING RUNS BY THE TURKISH AIR FORCE AND SOME CLASHES ON THE GROUND BETWEEN TURKISH ARMY TROOPS AND KURDISH FIGHTERS. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM ANKARA. TEXT: TURKEY'S ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE BOMBING RAIDS DESTROYED THREE GUERRILLA BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ, WHILE TURKISH GROUND FORCES ENCOUNTERED GROUPS OF GUERRILLAS TRYING TO FLEE THE AREA. THE NEWS AGENCY REPORTS THE ARMY TOOK SOME SURRENDERING KURDISH FIGHTERS INTO CUSTODY FOR THE FIRST SINCE THIS OPERATION BEGAN ON MONDAY. THE TURKISH MILITARY SAYS THE OPERATION, INVOLVING 35-THOUSAND TROOPS, IS SUCCESSFULLY ENDING THE REBELS' ABILITY TO LAUNCH ATTACKS ACROSS THE BORDER. THE TURKISH KURDISH GUERRILLAS OF THE GROUP CALLED THE P-K-K HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AUTONOMY IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS. BUT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT, AND MANY TURKISH COMMENTATORS, SAY THE GROUP DOES NOT REPRESENT THE WISHES OF MOST OF TURKEY'S 12-MILLION KURDS. TURKEY IS COMING UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND PARTICULARLY FROM WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO KEEP THE SIZE, SCOPE AND DURATION OF THE OPERATION TO A MINIMUM. BUT THE PRIME MINISTER SAID FRIDAY IF THAT IS WHAT EUROPE WANTS, IT MUST HELP ENSURE THAT THE GUERRILLAS CANNOT OPERATE IN NORTHERN IRAQ, WHICH HAS BEEN CONTROLLED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND A COUNCIL OF IRAQI KURDS SINCE THE GULF WAR. (SIGNED) NEB/AWP/MH/MMK 24-Mar-95 10:32 AM EST (1532 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------