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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 10, 2002

US Official in Turkey for Possible War on Iraq

US European Command Deputy Commander General Charles Wald arrived in Ankara Monday to have contacts with Turkish military officials at a time when the United States is preparing for a possible war on Iraq, the Anatolian News Agency reported.


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US European Command Deputy Commander General Charles Wald arrived in Ankara Monday to have contacts with Turkish military officials at a time when the United States is preparing for a possible war on Iraq, the Anatolian News Agency reported.

There are wide speculations that Wald would discuss with Turkish officials the use of Turkish air bases in case of a likely war on Iraq.

Wald was also scheduled to meet with Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit at a dinner later in the day.

A US official, however, denied the claims, saying that General Wald was appointed to the post of US European Command in Germany earlier in December, and he was paying visits of courtesy to NATO member states.

Meanwhile, US Senator Joseph Biden, who was outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, and Senator Chuck Hagel also paid visits to Ankara on Monday. They were expected to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul during their stay in Ankara.

Asked at the airport whether their intensive contacts in the region signaled an imminent anti-Iraqi operation, Biden said that there was no decision on an operation, adding the United States respected the UN Security Council resolutions.

Referring to Turkey's concerns about developments in northern Iraq, Biden said that he told Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq that"a united Iraq" should be founded after a possible operation.

The two US senators visited northern Iraq and Qatar and assessed preparations for a possible operation against Iraq, after holding contacts at the Incirlik base in Turkey's southern Adana Province last week.


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