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Europe
PKK claims responsibility for gas pipeline explosion in eastern Turkey
2006-08-22
The outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) has claimed its responsibility for Saturday's gas pipeline explosion in the eastern Turkish province of Agri, local Cihan News Agency reported on Monday. The PKK was quoted as saying the attack was a "warning" to both Turkey and Iran as they were carrying out joint military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq.

“The PKK was quoted as saying the attack was a "warning" to both Turkey and Iran as they were carrying out joint military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq...”
Late on Saturday, a major explosion hit a natural gas transfer unit of the Turkish Natural Gas Pipeline Company (BOTAS) near the village of Gecitalan, which carries natural gas from Iran to Turkey. Firefighters fought for four hours to bring under control the fire that broke out following the blast. Agri Governor Halil Ibrahim Akpinar, who arrived at the scene after the blast, said that they suspected a PKK terrorist sabotage because the militant group has carried out similar attacks in the region in the past.

The blast was so strong that it was heard nearly 40 kilometers away and the flames reached heights of up to 80 meters. Nearly 200 meters of the pipeline were blown up and almost eight million cubic meters of gas, worth an estimated 2.5 million US dollars, was burnt.
Posted by:Fred

#1  Actually, Murat Karayilan said a while back that aggression not only against PKK, but against any Kurdish faction, would receive a proper response.

This attack was very will timed. Just last week, Turkey and Iran agreed to expand their joint venture to supply Europe with natural gas.

I suspect this will be the shape of things to come, and it couldn't happen to a nicer pair of regimes.
Posted by: Azad   2006-08-22 14:17  

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