TURKEY said today it was not afraid of "paying the price" to win victory over Kurdish separatists based in northern Iraq after a rebel ambush near the Iraqi border left 12 soldiers dead.
"Although it respects Iraq's territorial integrity, Turkey will not tolerate that terrorism be aided and abetted and will not be afraid to pay, whatever the price may be, to protect its rights, its indivisible unity and its citizens," the country's top civilian and military officials said in a statement issued after an emergency meeting.
The statement came after parliament on Wednesday gave the Government authority to order cross-border military operations to strike at bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq's Kurdish-run autonomous north.
"The fight against the separatist terrorist organisation will be waged with determination until the very end," the statement said.
The talks were chaired by President Abdullah Gul and were attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the army brass and several cabinet ministers.
The Turkish army said today heavy fighting erupted in the south-eastern province of Hakkari following an ambush by PKK rebels on a military patrol in the area.
Twelve Turkish soldiers and 32 rebels were killed in the ensuing clashes, which also left 16 soldiers wounded.
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As many as 17 Turkish soldiers were killed and 16 were injured in an ambush after Iraqi Kurdish militants (PKK) attacked the patrol in Hakkari Province on the Iraq-Turkey border. As a result, a large battle erupted and at least 32 Kurdish militants were killed.

"Although it respects Iraq's territorial integrity, Turkey will not tolerate that terrorism be aided and abetted and will not be afraid to pay, whatever the price may be, to protect its rights, its indivisible unity and its citizens. The fight against the separatist terrorist organization will be waged with determination until the very end," said Turkey's top officials in a statement issued to the media, after an emergency meeting was held in regards to the battle.

Turkey has been building up troops along its border with Iraq with reports suggesting as many as 60,000 are currently stationed there. On Wednesday, Turkey approved a measure that authorized sending troops into Iraq to take out PKK militants, but on Sunday an official said that the incursion into Iraq was not urgent.

"There are plans to cross the border, but not urgently. We'd like to do these things with the Americans," said Turkish defense minister, Vecdi Gonul.

The U.S. has stated repeatedly that they are against any military action against the PKK and believe that it would cause even more instability in the region.

"These attacks are unacceptable and must stop now. Attacks from Iraqi territory need to be dealt with swiftly by the Iraqi government and Kurdish regional authorities," said a spokesman for U.S. President George W. Bush, Gordon Johndroe.

Iraq has spoken out against the attacks by the PKK and has condemned any such attacks on Turkish soldiers saying "Iraq's parliament unanimously votes to condemn the threat of using force to solve the dispute. It feels that the Turkish parliament's decision to use force does not boost bilateral relations."

Leaders in the Kurdish controlled areas of Iraq state that any attack on them would be met with retaliation.