Turkey watching situation in Kirkuk after Turkmen killings

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030824/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_us_turkmen_turkey&cid=1514&ncid=1480

ISTANBUL (AFP) - Turkey is closely following events in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk following recent violence in the Kurdish-controlled area involving members of the Turkmen ethnic minority. snip

"The situation is being followed closely by Ankara and Washington," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tyyap Erdogan told journalists in Istanbul on Sunday, according to CNN-Turkey news channel. snip

On Saturday, three Turkmen were shot dead by Kurdish police during a demonstration in Kirkuk, a day after fighting between Turkmen and Kurds in nearby Tuz Khurmatu left eight dead, while two more Turkmen were killed by US soldiers there. snip

The killings in Kirkuk come at a time when Turkey, which backs the Turkmen, is weighing whether to send up to 10,000 troops to join the US-led coalition occupying Iraq.

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