Subject: TURKEY-KURDS (S UPDATE) [3] By AL PESSIN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/24/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176018 TITLE=TURKEY-KURDS (S UPDATE) BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///UPDATES WITH THREAT OF RETALIATORY ATTACKS./// INTRO: TURKISH FORCES PRESSED THEIR ASSAULT ON SEPARATIST KURDISH BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ FRIDAY FOR THE FIFTH DAY, WITH BOMBING RUNS AND CLASHES ON THE GROUND, WHILE THE GUERRILLAS THREATENED TO STRIKE BACK WITH ATTACKS IN TURKISH CITIES. 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 GUERRILLAS' ABILITY TO LAUNCH ATTACKS ACROSS THE BORDER. BUT OBSERVERS BELIEVE MANY GUERRILLAS FLED THE AREA BEFORE THE TURKISH FORCES CROSSED THE BORDER. AND IN GENEVA, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF A KURDISH POLITICAL GROUP THREATENED THAT GUERRILLA FORCES WILL STRIKE BACK WITH ATTACKS IN TURKISH CITIES. TURKEY IS 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 THE WEST WANTS, IT MUST HELP ENSURE THAT THE GUERRILLAS CAN NOT 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/PT 24-Mar-95 2:42 PM EST (1942 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------