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World|politics|October 2, 2014 / 05:48 PM
Turkey MPs to vote on Iraq/Syria deployment

AKIPRESS.COM - soldiers The Turkish parliament is to vote on a motion to allow its military to enter Iraq and Syria and foreign troops to use its territory for the operation, reports BBC.

Turkey had been unwilling to fight Islamic State (IS) militants because they were holding 46 Turkish hostages but they were released last month.

Parliament is expected to back the motion. However, Turkey is wary of IS retaliation and fears helping the Kurds who are fighting the militants.

It has a porous and vulnerable border with Syria, more than 900km (560 miles) long.

Turkey has long been accused of permitting the flow of jihadists and resources into Syria as well as allowing IS to traffic oil from oilfields it has captured. The government in Ankara denies the allegations.

If MPs back the motion, it could mean the US using its large airbase at Incirlik in southern Turkey for air strikes.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the West to find a long-term solution to the crises in Syria and Iraq, pointing out that dropping "tonnes of bombs" on IS militants would only provide a temporary respite.

While he said "an effective struggle" against IS would be a priority for Turkey, "the immediate removal of the administration in Damascus" would also continue to be its priority.

He has repeatedly called for a buffer zone on the Turkish border inside Syria - enforced by a no-fly zone - to ensure security.

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