German Ambassador Lauds Turkish Plans for Troops in Iraq

The German ambassador to Turkey has welcomed the Turkish parliament's decision on Tuesday to send troops to Iraq. The vote was important to secure democracy in Iraq, Ambassador Wolf-Ruthard Born said on Wednesday according to the Turkish news agency Anadolu. A large majority of parliamentarians endorsed Ankara's plans to send up to 10,000 soldiers to the neighboring country to provide support to the United States. Turkey fears instability in Iraq -- particularly in the north of the country where the Kurdish minority lives -- could spread across the common border to southeastern Anatolia, which is also mainly inhabited by Kurds. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip is expected to soon polish off the details with the United States.