Up to 175 Kurdish rebels killed in Turkish air strike

ABC News is reporting that up to 175 Kurdish PKK members were killed on 16 December 2007 from air attacks conducted by Turkey.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement more than 200 targets were hit on December 16, including three command centres, two communications centres, two training camps, nine logistical areas, 182 living quarters and 14 arsenals.

Kurdish Regional Government President Massoud Barzani condemned the attacks stating,

"We have vehemently condemned the bombardment. The bombing targeted safe and secure areas and innocent people. Several people were either killed or wounded,".... "We held consultations with President Jalal Talabani and we will continue our consultations with other concerned parties to put an end to these aggressions and put to an end the shelling of villages."

On another note, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who is Kurdish, and Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who is Sunni Arab, met with President Barzani in which they signed a "memorandum of understanding" to deepen relations further with their three parties.

The deepening of relations between these two parties represent approximately 42% of the Iraqi population, compared to the 55% Shia population. If these parties can come to a common understanding, provide a unified front, and bring in some secular Shi'ites, future Iraqi elections will be very interesting to say the least.