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Raw Video: Angry Kurds Pummel Turkish Official After Deadly Airstrike

Angry Kurds Attack Turkish Official After Deadly Airstrike

(AP) — Angry Kurds on Saturday assaulted a local official who sought to offer condolences in a village in Turkey where 35 civilians were mistakenly killed in a military airstrike meant to target Kurdish rebels.

The televised spectacle of men throwing punches and stones at Naif Yavuz, a district governor, was the latest eruption of fury over Wednesday’s airstrikes, and it highlighted the deep gulf of trust between the Turkish state and large segments of its ethnic Kurd minority.

Clashes also broke out for a third day between police and protesters in several cities in the mainly Kurdish southeast, the state-run Anadolu agency reported. Thirty-six people were detained in the city of Sanliurfa. There were peaceful protests in several other cities. Reuters reports on the nation-wide protests:

The strikes by F-16 jets, guided by intelligence from drones, hit a group of Kurdish smugglers and resulted in one of the highest single-day civilian death tolls in Turkey’s decades-old war with Kurdish rebels, setting off several days of violent demonstrations in mostly Kurdish cities.

The rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party, labeled a terrorist group by Turkey and the West, threatened retaliation and urged protesters to mobilize. The group, however, is considerably weakened since the peak of its military powers in the 1990s and its influence is largely confined to the poor southeast, where calls for autonomy and an end to discrimination resonate most strongly.

“No one should have any doubt that their blood will be avenged. The Kurdistan freedom movement will make sure that this massacre is accounted for,” Firat, a pro-Kurdish news agency, quoted rebel commander Murat Karayilan as saying.

“If the Kurdish people do not want their children to die, they must now say ‘enough’ and they must rise up everywhere and go out in the streets,” said Karayilan, who is based in the mountains of northern Iraq.

Kurdish rebels have routinely used the border region to launch attacks on Turkish targets, slipping into Turkey on some of the same rugged paths used by fuel and cigarette smugglers for years.

Turkish officials have promised a full investigation into the botched airstrike, and said those responsible will be held to account. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned the families of the victims in the village of Gulyazi in Sirnak province to express condolences, and his voice was broadcast through a loudspeaker.

“We share your grief, your pain is our pain,” the Anadolu agency quoted Erdogan as saying. “Everyone must rest assured that all kind of work is under way in relation to the issue.”

Angry Kurds Attack Turkish Official After Deadly Airstrike

The Show TV channel showed one man telling Erdogan on the telephone: “They didn’t deserve to die in this way.”

Erdogan replies: “The issue is not that they were smugglers. You know the area, it is a very sensitive area, it is not possible for them (the military) to recognize each and every person.”

Footage from the Dogan news agency of the visit of Yavuz, the district governor, revealed the bitter feeling toward figures representing the state in a province where the conflict has long disrupted life.

The images show men booing, lunging forward and pummeling Yavuz as his aides try to hustle him down a road lined with parked cars and bleak, snow-covered slopes. At one point, dazed and disheveled, he runs down an embankment to get away from the crowd. Yavuz was taken to a hospital for a checkup, according to reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay visited bereaved families in a house and told Anadolu that members of a “party,” an apparent reference to political activists, provoked the attack on Yavuz and that the families were disturbed by the incident and apologized for it.

Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who plans to visit the region on Sunday, said the government has yet to explain how the intelligence that led to the airstrike was compiled, and who exactly was involved.

“It seems that the incident was caused by incorrect intelligence,” he said. “Who provided this intelligence to the military headquarters? They say no country would bomb its own people, but it has. Who will account for this?”

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, known by its Turkish acronym MIT, has denied reports it provided the information that led to the airstrike.

The United States recently deployed four Predator drones to Turkey from Iraq to aid Ankara in its fight against the rebels.

Also Saturday, Turkish media reported that two suspected Kurdish rebels were killed in a police raid in Diyarbakir, the main city in southeastern Turkey. The Anadolu agency said the rebels ignored calls to surrender and threw hand grenades at police surrounding their hideout. A firefight ensued, and the suspects died after jumping out of the building.

The Turkish government has sought to reconcile with disaffected Kurds, allowing Kurdish-language institutes and private Kurdish courses as well as Kurdish television broadcasts. But Kurdish activists cite police roundups of Kurdish politicians, journalists and others suspected of rebel links as a sign of intolerance toward the minority.

Comments (45)

  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 11:34pm

    Isn’t Turkey a Muslim country??? Not like they will ever side with us!

    I would never trust Turkey and/or Jordan regardless! It seems as though the Muslim Brotherhood has taken over ever country near there! So why do we continue to fund them???

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 12:14pm

    No Arab League to the rescue here. Turkey’s not a member.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • crackerone
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:49am

    If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, would Greece help?

    Report Post »  
  • Joyce D
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:11am

    I saw a doucmentary about the smugglers on AlJazeera. Smuggling is like a regular job, with risks involved mainly having you goods stolen by other smugglers. The cargo is cigarettes, liquor, and porn for the most part. What is not said in this story is the report that soldiers in Turkish uniforms herded the smugglers down a path before the airstrike. That is why the people are so mad.

    Report Post »  
    • BSdetector
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 6:31pm

      So the Millitary was smart and didn’t waste bombs. Gotta give em kudos for that.

      Report Post » BSdetector  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 5:38am

    Headline ; TURDS BOMB KURDS…

    Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 1:07pm

      Headline; TURDS & KURDS riot in Europe; Fighting erupts between them; It is all Europe’s fault. At least according to the left.

      Report Post »  
  • Pro-Palin
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 3:06am

    The Kurdish people are awesome and friendly to the USA , first we abandon them in the Bush senior gulf war now we are flying drones in the name of OB screw that..

    BTW we need to get a good RC large size Private air force to take down the drones over the USA except the border. COPS in middle America should not have these tools. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7czaWX07VUI

    Report Post » Pro-Palin  
  • ImMadAsHell
    Posted on January 1, 2012 at 1:05am

    I fricken HATE these people. I know U R not suppose 2 hate but I just cant help myself. The whole middle east needs 2 B come a glass parking lot starting with MECA

    Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 1:47am

      This is one thing the Middle East is doing that I would like to see in America – let’s parade a few of our Democratic Politicians and Liberal Media idiots like Chris Matthews. The Sell Outs!

      Report Post » db321  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 11:47pm

    Those are not Kurds rioting! Those are Mountain Turks!

    Or so says the pugnacious Turkish bigots.

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 5:35am

      Ummmm, Turkey has F-15s and Drones ? Really….

      Report Post »  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 9:24am

      F-16s’..Not F-15s’ We have supplied Turkey with jet fighters in the past. They even flew the F-105.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • enough_liberal_BS
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 9:29pm

    Pop Quiz: Why is Turkey our ally?

    Report Post »  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:45pm

    Angry Kurds??? That’s a popular game people play right???

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • flatdaddio
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:42pm

    amazing how some people in this country think the rest of the world is much better than the life we have here in the US..

    Report Post »  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 9:09pm

      And 95% of those people have lived here their entire lives. While in the Army I saw a lot of the “rest of the world.” Coming home to the good ‘ol USA was wonderful every single time. We certainly have our problems but NOTHING as bad as most of the people on earth!!

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • 1776freedomofspeech
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 8:11am

      They would be wrong. The USA is the best there is. Be thankful you if you live in the USA.

      Clean water, reasonable taxes for the most part, a respect for life, a system of justice that is generally effective, the right to express yourself, freedom of movement, the right to vote. The right to believe-in just about whatever you can think of. We have problems but so does everybody else. No country is perfect. The USA is still the best.

      Report Post » 1776freedomofspeech  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 10:48am

      Yes
      All those peeps trying to break into Turkey or Iran or Canada.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • crackerone
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:07pm

    Wait till the OWS turds, find out, what kind of money Al Gore makes in a year.

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:03pm

    actually, they are probably ahead of us ……………..they have already realized the best way to keep your politicians in line is to give them a beat down when they step out of line

    i could think of quite a few politicians………….., in fact, the majority of them, need a good beating

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:07pm

      “…..probably….” ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • GUNNSUP
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:54pm

      Yes, a beatdown on all of our current thieves in congress & the WH would be appropriate, just before a trip to the guillotine….& this also stands for anyone still alive (living a life of luxury off our $$) that has contributed to the current economic plundering of the US….

      Report Post » GUNNSUP  
  • Pucci
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 6:51pm

    to hell with turkey

    Report Post » Pucci  
  • AMERICA4EVER
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 6:48pm

    Sounds like a bunch of black panthers at the polling place next November. Couldn’t understand a word.

    Report Post »  
  • scout n ambush
    Posted on December 31, 2011 at 6:48pm

    The Kurs don’t want their kids to die seems strange compared to most countries in that region of the world.

    Report Post » scout n ambush  
    • scout n ambush
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 6:52pm

      Kurds

      Report Post » scout n ambush  
    • AMERICA4EVER
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 6:54pm

      Kurds turds.

      Report Post »  
    • Sirfoldallot
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:10pm

      The kurds r our friends u dummy.

      Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
    • Sirfoldallot
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:20pm

      U really don’t know what ur talking about, mo.

      Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
    • AMERICA4EVER
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:25pm

      SIRFOLDALLOT
      The Kurds are fair weather friends just like most in that region, with the exception of Israel.

      Report Post »  
    • scout n ambush
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 7:26pm

      Looks like our dear leader hung the iraqi kurds friendly towards us out to dry

      Report Post » scout n ambush  
    • Jedrin
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 10:28pm

      I do remember a few “honor killings” the Kurds participated in. Not my friends. They can stay over there and hassle the uncouth Turks all they want. The entire region is hell on earth.

      Report Post »  
    • Jedrin
      Posted on December 31, 2011 at 10:50pm

      scout n ambush the Turkish Kurds were never backed by the US and the US got the Iraqi Kurds to distance themselves from the Turkish Kurds. So in this case not much has changed. The Turks are scared spitless of the Kurds in Iraq calling the region Kurdistan, it may annex part of Turkey like it ought to be.

      Report Post »  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 1:49am

      Kurds live in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. All these areas together are nearly as large as Iraq alone. They are also a second exception in the ME as demographics go. One is Israel. They both have positive demographics. All other countries are either in a demographic stasis or contraction. If Israel and Kurds can fend off any conflict with a great loss of life, in 50 years, they will be dividing the Middle East between themselves.

      Once the Muslim Brotherhood takes power in Egypt and Syria, they’d take these countries into an economic free-fall.

      Qatar Emir is doing his best to plot against KSA royals.

      Iran is doing its best to plot against everybody. Two factions in Iran, the Mahdists and the Greater Persianists are plotting against each other. They don’t notice that secret christian churches are growing meanwhile like mushrooms. Well they seem to notice some, but not most. Balochis plot against Iran government as they always did. Azeris sit on the fence for time being, but when they decide to get over it, things will get rather interesting, the Turkic north east may join the fray too. The Arabs in the Khuzestan are probably bidding their time. When all that happens, there may be some Iran left, landlocked and about one sixth of its current size.

      Hard to tell which way the events turn. If Mahdists get an upper hand, they may go with their general mayhem plan–to start WWIII, provided that they get the nukes. The Great Persianists would like nukes too, but more

      Report Post » Twobyfour  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on January 1, 2012 at 1:51am

      … like an intimidation device.

      The chances that the region would go into a war mode (localized conflicts or a larger inflammation resulting in further expansion because of oil reserves) are pretty good. Obama’s policies (let’s cuddle our enemies and kick our friends into teeth) laid eggs that will come to roost, as soon as the temperature increases. If Ron Paul wins, it would work like an accelerator.

      As Chinese say, we live in interesting times.

      Report Post » Twobyfour  

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