Turkey allows Iraqi Kurds to fight in Kobani

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed on Monday that Ankara would allow Kurdish troops from Iraq - known as "Peshmerga" - to bolster defenses in Kobani. The Syrian border town, which lies close to Turkey, has been the scene of heavy fighting after "Islamic State" fighters launched an offensive on its Kurdish population roughly one month ago.

"We are facilitating the passage of Peshmerga forces to Kobani to provide support. Our talks on this subject are continuing," Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu told reporters on Monday.

Ankara has faced criticism in recent weeks for resisting calls to provide military support to the fight against the jihadist group, who would gain more influence along the Syrian-Turkish border if they took full control of the town.

The Turkish government's caution stems from distrust of the Kurdistan Worker's Party - known as the PKK- whose separatist guerrilla movement has been responsible for the death of roughly some 40,000 people since the 1970s. Despite a ceasefire last year, tensions remain strained between the two groups.

'No wish' for Kobani to fall

Over the weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had emphasized that Ankara continued to distrust Kurdish groups in general, saying they were "no different" than the PKK and comparing them to terrorists.

However, on Monday, his foreign minister - without referring to Erdogan's comments - also emphasized that Turkish security was the country's main priority.

"We have no wish at all to see Kobani fall," he said.

Turkish Kurds have carried out demonstrations both in Turkey and in other European countries - including Germany. They are protesting Ankara's perceived apathy against the ethnic group's plight as the jihadist group attacks its brethren in both northern Iraq and northern Syria.

Kerry: 'irresponsible' not to help

Turkey's announcement followed less than a day after the US airdropped weapons and ammunition to the Kurdish fighters in Kobani.

"Let me say very respectfully to our allies the Turks that we understand fully the fundamentals of their opposition and ours to any kind of terrorist group and particularly obviously the challenges they face with respect to the PKK," US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on Monday during a visit to Indonesia.

Kerry added that the airdrop was not a US policy shift, but rather a response to a "crisis moment, an emergency."

"It would be irresponsible of us, as well as morally very difficult, to turn your back on a community fighting ISIL as hard as it is at this particular moment," he said, referring to IS by a different name.

The previous day US President Barack Obama called on the Turkish prime minister to bolster his support for the fight against IS. The premier, for his part, said it would be wrong for Washington to expect Ankara to support "a terrorist organization," referring to the Kurdish fighters.

kms/sb (AP, AFP, Reuters)