The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Diyarbakir

Turkish forces said they repelled a Kurdish rebel attack near the Iraqi border and President Abdullah Gul warned the PKK on Thursday that Turkey's patience was running out.

Ankara has massed as many as 100,000 troops along the mountainous border ahead of a possible cross-border operation to crush around 3,000 rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who use northern Iraq as a launchpad for attacks on Turkey. Iraqi, Turkish and U.S. diplomats have stepped up efforts to avert a large-scale Turkish incursion but Gul said Turkey would not tolerate more PKK attacks from Iraq.

"We are totally determined to take all necessary steps to end this threatt Iraq should not be a source of threat for its neighbors," Gul told an economic conference in Ankara.

"Although we respect the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq, Turkey is running out of patience and will not tolerate the use of Iraqi soil for the purpose of terrorist activities."

Public pressure on the Turkish authorities to act has grown since rebels killed 12 soldiers in clashes last weekend.

Turkish security sources have confirmed a series of sorties by warplanes and ground troops since Sunday into Iraqi territory, though Ankara has said it still hopes diplomacy can stave off the need for a full-blown ground invasion.