AP interview with Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani

(24 Oct 2007)
1. Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani walking into room
2. Barzani sitting down during interview
3. SOUNDBITE: (Kurdish) Massoud Barzani, Leader of Iraq's Kurdish region:
"If Turkey comes up with a peaceful solution, and the PKK refuse it, we are ready to do anything against the PKK. But if Turkey is using the PKK as an excuse to fight with us, we are ready to defend ourselves."
4. Cutaway of Bazani being interviewed
5. SOUNDBITE: (Kurdish) Massoud Barzani, Leader of Iraq's Kurdish region:
"If Turkey has a peaceful initiative and the PKK refuse it, at that time I will ask all the Kurds, all the political parties, and intellectuals to come together. We will explicitly tell the PKK this is a peaceful solution, and you will be part of it. If they insist on refusing it, we will tell all of the Kurdish nation that this was a peaceful initiative, and PKK was against that, and then we are ready to do anything against them. "
6. Cutaway of interview
7. SOUNDBITE: (Kurdish) Massoud Barzani, Leader of Iraq's Kurdish region:
"A peaceful solution is the solution, in the last 23 years military solution has come to nothing." (UPSOUND of translator speaking in English) "A few days ago Erdogan told the PKK to lay down their arms and come back to Parliament to try and solve their problems. I think that's a wise idea."
8. Barzani sitting during interview
STORYLINE:
Leader of Iraq's Kurdish region Massoud Barzani has told AP Television that he would support a Turkish proposal for a peaceful solution to fighting with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) but that the regions is prepared to defend itself against Ankara if necessary.
"If Turkey comes up with a peaceful solution, and the PKK refuse it, we are ready to do anything against the PKK. But if Turkey is using the PKK as an excuse to fight with us, we are ready to defend ourselves," Barzani said in an interview on Tuesday.
The leader of the Kurdish region in Northern Iraq said that if Turkey puts forward a peaceful initiative which is then refused by the PKK he will call all Kurds to come together.
"We will explicitly tell the PKK this is a peaceful solution, and you will be part of it. If they insist on refusing it, we will tell all of the Kurdish nation that this was a peaceful initiative, and PKK was against that, and then we are ready to do anything against them, " he said.
Barzani's comments come as tension has been building up along the border area between Northern Iraq and Turkey.
During the interview on Tuesday, he said a peaceful solution must be found.
"A few days ago Erdogan told the PKK to lay down their arms and come back to Parliament to try and solve their problems. I think that's a wise idea," he said.
Turkish helicopter gunships have penetrated into Iraqi territory and troops have shelled suspected Kurdish rebel positions across the border in Iraq, a government official said on Wednesday as civilian and military leaders discussed the scope and duration of a possible offensive into northern Iraq.
US-made Cobra and Super Cobra attack helicopters chased Kurdish rebels 5 kilometres (3 miles) into Iraqi territory on Sunday but returned to their bases in Turkey after a rebel ambush killed 12 soldiers near the border, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
He also said Turkish artillery units shelled rebel positions as recently as Tuesday night but he did not say which areas were targeted and refused to give further information.
Iraqi Kurdish officials also confirmed Turkish shelling along the border over the weekend.

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