U.S. Air Strike Kills 11 In Iraq

Military Says 6 Civilians Among Dead, U.S., U.K. Press Turkey To Forego Cross-Border Attack

(CBS/AP)  Rice and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband issued a joint statement Monday urging Iraq and Turkey to work together to stave off the need for a Turkish invasion.

"We continue to believe that cooperation and coordination between Turkey and Iraq is the most effective means to eliminate the PKK threat," Rice and Miliband said.

Turkey's overnight military movements followed Sunday's rebel ambush near the Iraqi border that left 12 Turkish soldiers dead, 16 wounded and eight missing.

For five hours, several helicopters ferried commando units and pro-government Kurdish village guards toward the border, reporters said. The governor's office said more combat-experienced units were being deployed.

Dozens of Turkish military vehicles loaded with soldiers and heavy weapons rumbled toward the Iraqi border Monday. Turkish F-16 warplanes were also ready to take off from several bases in southeastern Turkey, according to local reports.

In response to Sunday's rebel attack, Turkish troops, backed by Cobra helicopter gunships, have killed 34 guerrillas, the military said.

Eight soldiers were reported missing by the military Monday. The rebel group claimed they have captured the soldiers and released their names.

Turkish officials, however, said the search was continuing for soldiers from Sunday's attack and would not comment on the rebels' claims.

If confirmed, the seizure would be the largest since 1995, when guerrillas grabbed eight soldiers and took them to northern Iraq before releasing them two years later.

The rebel group Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, on Monday called on Turkey not to attack Iraq, claiming that a unilateral rebel cease-fire declared in June was still in place although it did not halt fighting.

"We have not officially ended the cease-fire," the group said, according to the pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency. "We're stating clearly that if the Turkish state stops its attacks then increased tensions will be replaced with a clash-free environment."

However, the rebel group said it was determined to defend itself against Turkish attacks.

Turkey has rejected several past unilateral cease-fires declared by rebels, saying it would keep fighting until all rebels surrender or are killed.

In the past, rebels have pressed ahead with attacks despite cease-fires, on grounds that they were defending themselves.

Sunday's ambush outraged an already frustrated public. Demonstrations erupted across the country and opposition leaders called for an immediate strike against rebel bases in Iraq, despite appeals for restraint from Iraq, the U.S. and European leaders.

Funerals were held for the slain soldiers on Tuesday in several cities and several thousands of mourners, waving flags, chanted: "Martyrs never die! The nation will never be divided!"

"Martyr" is a term used by Turks for soldiers killed in combat.

The United States is pressing hard to keep Turkey from invading northern Iraq and possibly further destabilizing Iraq and the region.

The U.S. designates the PKK as an international terrorist organization.