More Snags In Turkish Overflights

Turkey on Friday delayed opening its airspace to U.S. warplanes for strikes against Iraq, insisting that the United States agree to its demands to move troops into northern Iraq, officials said.

U.S. officials say that's delaying the transport of U.S. troops to Iraq.

U.S. and Turkish officials held overnight talks until early Friday, but failed to work out an agreement on the conditions of the overflights, western diplomats said. Talks were expected to continue.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener confirmed that an agreement had not been reached.

"The military and diplomatic basis must be prepared," Sener said. "The fact that the authorization was approved doesn't mean it is automatically put into effect."

State Department sources also tell CBS News Correspondent Charles Wolfson the Turkish military is now demanding "elaborate documentation for each flight...which is inconsistent with what's being required by other NATO allies for overflights."

Turkey's parliament voted Thursday to allow the United States to use the airspace, a measure that would allow strike aircraft on carriers in the Mediterranean to fly more directly into Iraq.

After parliament's approval, the United States still needs the Turkish government's go-ahead.

But officials said that Turkish insistence on sending its own troops into northern Iraq has prevented an agreement on the use of Turkish airspace. The Turks fear a flood of Kurdish refugees.

The resolution passed by parliament would also allow Turkey to move its own forces into northern Iraq.

But allowing Turkish troops in northern Iraq would bring them into conflict with Kurdish guerillas there, reports CBS News Correspondent Allen Pizzey. The Kurds say they would welcome U.S. troops, but Turks would only be welcome if they were also under U.S. Control.

"Both Saddam and the Turks are enemies," a guerrilla fighter said.

Indeed the Kurdish guerrillas have spent as as much time fighting the Turks as they have each other and Saddam Hussein.

The Turks fear once Saddam is gone, the Kurds would establish an independent state. The Iraqi Kurds say that won't happen.

The United States opposes any unilateral move by Turkey into northern Iraq. Washington has warned that a Turkish incursion could lead to friendly fire incidents with U.S. forces.

Negotiations are also locked over Turkish demands that the U.S. military provide information on the type of planes, their mission, and their destination ahead of the overflights, a Turkish military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United States wants to be able to use the airspace without prior notification.

The United States hopes to see the agreement "implemented in the most immediate fashion," said a western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The United States also wants to use refueling aircraft based at Incirlik air base in southern Turkey, but Turkey is so far balking, saying it is not part of the airspace agreement.

U.S. warplanes based in Incirlik have been used to patrol a no-fly zone over northern Iraq and the refuelers were used as part of that mission.

U.S. Ambassador Robert Pearson held talks until 4:00 a.m with top foreign ministry officials, but the talks failed to deliver a breakthrough, the western diplomat added.

Thursday's vote granting overflight rights follows intense lobbying by the United States, but falls far short of Washington's original request to send 62,000 soldiers to Turkey to open up a northern front against Iraq that would divide the Iraqi army.

Polls show up to 94 percent of Turks are against a war against Iraq, opposition that contributed to months of delays by Turkey's government.

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher welcomed the vote granting airspace rights, but said the United States remained "opposed to unilateral action by Turkey or by any party in northern Iraq."

Parliament earlier this month failed to pass a resolution that would have let in U.S. ground troops for an Iraq invasion.

The United States had offered Turkey a package of US$15 billion in loans and grants if it lets in U.S. troops for a ground war. But the United States withdrew the aid package as war drew closer and it became clear that even if Turkey voted in favor, the U.S. military would not have time to bring in the units.