Turkey looks to grant America airspace but not use of bases

ANKARA, Turkey -- The government asked parliament Wednesday to grant the U.S. military permission to use Turkish airspace in an Iraq war, a delayed decision that falls short of Washington's initial hopes to station ground troops in Turkey.

The proposal would not allow U.S. planes to use Turkish air bases or refuel in Turkey.

The United States also would not be able to use Incirlik air base, a sprawling facility that houses 50 U.S. fighters used to patrol a no-fly zone over Iraq. In the event of a war, fighters at Incirlik would apparently not be able to fly over Iraq.

The government sent the resolution to parliament late Wednesday and a vote was expected today.

The United States for months has been pressing Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, to allow in 62,000 soldiers to open a northern front against Iraq. But as a possible date for an Iraq war draws closer, Washington has been pushing for the urgent use of Turkish airspace for overflights.

An Iraq war is extremely unpopular in Turkey. As a result, the government of new Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been dragging its feet in asking parliament to approve an agreement. A first agreement that would have allowed in U.S. troops failed by just four votes.

Cabinet spokesman Cemil Cicek said a motion on allowing in U.S. troops could be considered at a later date.

The decision sent markets tumbling Wednesday with traders fearful the Cabinet decision to only allow airspace rights marked the end of a $15 billion U.S. aid package linked to the U.S. troop deployment. Istanbul's benchmark IMKB100 index dropped about 6 percent in trading Wednesday, to close at 9,938 points.

Economy Minister Ali Babacan said the original U.S. aid package was no longer valid, but he left open the possibility of a new financial deal.

The "package does not exist now but it is not possible to say what will happen in a few days," Babacan said.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said overflights are routinely granted without provisions of economic assistance and that the United States expects the overflights concerning Turkey "will be handled in that manner."

Flying from Europe

U.S. warplanes based in Europe or the United States would need to cross Turkey to strike Iraq. The United States could also use Turkish airspace to ferry troops into northern Iraq.

The resolution sent to parliament does not address allowing U.S. forces to use Turkish air bases or refuel in Turkey.

Incirlik was a key hub during U.S. operations in Afghanistan, serving as a supply and refueling station for flights from the United States and Europe to Afghanistan.

The resolution also would allow Turkish troops to enter Iraq if there is a war. Cicek said Washington had agreed in principle to allow Turkish troops in northern Iraq.

U.S. officials have said Washington opposes a unilateral Turkish incursion in northern Iraq. White House special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad held two days of talks with Turkish and Iraqi opposition officials to try to convince Turks to stay out of northern Iraq.

Turkey still reserves the right to enter northern Iraq, but all sides agreed to set up a "standing committee" gathering Turks, Iraqi Kurdish and U.S. officials to try and find alternative solutions, U.S. and Kurdish officials said.

Turkey says it could send its forces across the border into Iraq to prevent a possible refugee flow or to stop Turkish Kurdish rebels who have bases in northern Iraq from crossing into Turkey.

A senior U.S. official said Wednesday any Turkish incursion would have to be approved by the committee and be coordinated with U.S. forces. If not, Turkey would be going in "unilaterally," the official said.

That could lead Turkish and U.S. forces to be caught in friendly fire, U.S. officials have warned. Iraqi Kurdish forces are staunchly opposed to a Turkish military intervention and say that that it could lead to clashes.