Turkey gives approval for use of bases in attacks against Iraq

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey's foreign minister said Tuesday that his country would allow the United States to use military bases in the country for a strike against Iraq, but only if the United Nations first approved such military action.

The move boosts pressure on Iraq and comes just before a Sunday deadline for Baghdad to declare all its banned weapons of mass destruction to U.N. weapons inspectors. President Bush has threatened the use of force if Iraq does not disarm.

The announcement by Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis represents a partial victory for the United States in building a coalition against Iraq. It came as U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was in Turkey lobbying for the country's support in an Iraq operation.

Turkish leaders have previously refused to publicly commit as to whether they would allow the United States to use bases in a strike against Iraq, which borders Turkey.

Yakis, however, cast doubt on the possibility of deploying large numbers of U.S. ground troops in Turkey. And the condition of U.N. approval might not be easy for the United States to meet.

Turkey has opposed a war on Iraq, but politicians have always indicated that if a conflict started, the country would have little choice but to back Washington.

"There should not be left any stone unturned before resorting to a military solution," Yakis told reporters. "But if it comes to that, then of course, we will cooperate with the United States because it's a big ally and we have excellent relations with the United States."

When asked to define cooperation, Yakis said, "the opening of air space, first of all, and the utilization of facilities in Turkey."

"The military authorities of the two countries are consulting on the assumption that such a cooperation may be necessary one day," Yakis added.

Turkey has repeatedly said any action in Iraq must have U.N. approval.

When asked if the United States would have to seek a new U.N. resolution to use force against Iraq, Yakis said: "Yes, yes, yes. The Turkish understanding (is) that the present resolution, 1441, does not allow automatic resorting to armed intervention."

The support of NATO ally Turkey is crucial to any war. Turkey hosts some 50 U.S. aircraft patrolling a no-fly zone over northern Iraq and was a key staging post for U.S. air raids during the 1991 Gulf War.

Turkey, however, puts restrictions on aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone. A Turkish military officer monitors all flights over the no-fly zone from Incirlik air base, sitting next to the U.S. and British officers who command the missions.

The Turkish military must also approve any strike in northern Iraq and must also approve the deployment of allied aircraft to the base and which weapons they use.

Although the United States is looking at the possibility of sending ground troops into northern Iraq, Yakis said Turkey would have trouble supporting a large U.S. military presence.