Military convoy deployed to border with Iraq

Описание: (7 Feb 2003)

Cizre, 45 kilometres (30 miles) from the Iraqi border
1. Long shot of armoured car leading convoy of military trucks and other vehicles along Turkey's Old Silk Road soon after dawn
2. Various of military convoy on road
3. Military trucks driving through town
4. Truck carrying a version of the American-made M60 "Patton" tank on trailer
5. Various of trucks with tanks and other vehicles manoeuvering crossroads in town
6. Various of trucks and other vehicles on the road

STORYLINE:

Turkey continued its deployment of troops to its border with Iraq on Friday.

Turkey's prime minister has warned that his country may have no choice but to back Washington if there is a conflict.

About 3500 US soldiers are expected to arrive in Turkey soon to work on bases that US troops could use to open a northern front against Iraq that would divide the Iraqi army between the north and the Gulf in the south.

US officials have said a northern front would lead to a quicker war and have been relentlessly pressing Turkish leaders to back the war plans.

Turkey has been reluctant to back US war efforts, but its parliament agreed on Thursday to allow the US to upgrade several of its military bases and ports.

Turkey's politically powerful military has hinted it will move troops into northern Iraq during any new war, to prevent refugees crossing into Turkey and to ensure Turkish and Iraqi Kurds do not unite to try to forge Kurdish state that would threaten Turkish sovereignty of the border 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...