“The US evidence on Sulaimaniya incident is unconvincing”

The Turkish officials presented extensive files to their US counterparts said to refute US claims that the Turkish soldiers were involved in a plot to kill the interim governor of Kirkuk, a key city in northern Iraq. Sources said that Sylvester’s findings would carry great weight for the course of the inquiry, adding that the Turkish and US sides were expected to issue a joint statement after the investigation was concluded. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday repeated his rejections of US claims concerning the incident. “The US is well informed about the number of both Turkish soldiers commissioned in northern Iraq and their weapons,” said Gul. “Speculative evidence is unacceptable. Our soldiers went to northern Iraq to establish peace and stability in the region. This incident is nothing but a provocation.”