Turkey decides not to send troops to Iraq, news agency says

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey will not send its troops to Iraq to relieve U.S. forces there after plans for a deployment raised sharp opposition from Iraqis, the Anatolia news agency reported Friday.

The Turkish parliament's decision last month to approve troops for Iraq had been a major victory for the United States, which has pressed hard for Turkey to join peacekeeping efforts. Turkey would be the first major Muslim nation to send troops to bolster the U.S.-led occupation.

But Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council quickly voiced opposition to having troops from Turkey -- or any of Iraq's neighbors -- on its soil. Many Iraqis were suspicious of the Turks, fearing they were seeking to dominate the country or would clash with Kurds in the north.

Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, spoke with Secretary of State Colin Powell late Thursday and told him Ankara would "re- evaluate its offer to send troops to Iraq," ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said, according to the semiofficial Anatolia agency.

The agency cited government sources saying the government had decided not to send troops.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the confirmation between Gul and Powell. Asked if Turkey was still sending troops, the official said: "At this point, it appears 'no."'

Turkey's military has decided to stop preparations for deployment as well, private NTV television said.

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