Turkey asks US to speed up delivery of attack helicopters to fight separatist Kurdish rebels

Published November 17, 2014

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish defense minister has asked the United States to speed up the delivery of new attack helicopters to fight separatist Kurdish rebels in the Turkey's mountainous southeast.

Vecdi Gonul said Wednesday that Turkey asked the U.S. to deliver the Super Cobra helicopters this year, a year ahead of schedule.

The Kurdish rebels have dramatically escalated their attacks this month. Nineteen soldiers and 21 rebels died in clashes last week.

Gonul says Turkey asked for several attack helicopter gunships but U.S. Congress only approved two. Today's Zaman newspaper said Turkey had asked for nine.

Human rights groups frequently express concern that Turkish civilians are caught in the middle of the conflict.

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