UPDATE - Turkey summons Iran envoy over remarks on Iraq ops

ADDS MORE DETAILS

By Zuhal Demirci

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Sunday summoned the Iranian ambassador in the country over remarks alleging it violated Iraq's sovereignty, according to diplomatic sources.

Summoning Ambassador Mohammad Farazmand, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed the country's rejection of the accusations leveled by Iran's envoy in Baghdad, underlining that Ankara is fighting the PKK terrorist organization, which targets Iraq's stability, security and sovereignty, said the sources.

Stressing that this was known by all parties, including the Iraqi authorities, Ankara also told Farazmand that it expects Iran to support, not oppose, Turkey's fight against terrorism.

Iraj Masjedi, Iran's ambassador to Iraq, made the accusations against Turkey earlier this month in an interview.

The ministry also stressed that Masjedi, during the interview, mentioned nothing of the threats posed by the PKK terror group.

Turkish forces carried out a four-day Operation Claw-Eagle 2 in Gara in February to prevent the PKK and other terror groups from re-establishing positions used to carry out cross-border terror attacks on Turkey.

Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were initiated last June to ensure the safety of Turkey's people and borders.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people including women, children, and infants.