Turkey, Iraq sign anti-terrorism deal

ANKARA, Sept 28 (Reuters) Turkey and Iraq signed an anti-terrorism deal today targeting Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq, but failed to agree on a plan that would have let Turkish troops chase militants aross their shared border.

Under the agreement, the two countries vowed to take all necessary measures, including financial and intelligence, to combat the Kurdish PKK guerrillas and other militant groups. They will hold six-monthly meetings to coordinate their work.

Turkey has long criticised the Baghdad government and US occupying forces in Iraq for failing to tackle the PKK. Ankara claims the right under international law to send its troops across the mountainous border in ''hot pursuit'' of rebels, but Iraqi Kurds opposed any concession by Baghdad on this issue.

REUTERS SS AS1503