Turkey calls on Baghdad government to fight PKK, following complaint over Iraq airstrikes

Turkey has called on the Baghdad government to join Ankara in its fight against Kurdish separatists, and vowed it will continue its raids in Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

"Turkey assumes all its responsibilities in the fight against terrorism," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement.

It follows complaints from the Iraqi government over Turkish air raids on PKK target this week.

Ankara said on Thursday it had launched on PKK positions around Sinjar Mount Karajak, hitting tunnels and militant shelters, saying trhe raids were an act of self-defence.

Iraq summoned Turkey's ambassador over the strikes.

On Saturday, Turkey's foreign ministry said Baghdad had a duty to prevent the PKK from launching attacks on Turkish territory from Iraq and vowed to continue its strikes on the Kurdish militants.

"These operations in the fight against terrorism will continue as long as terror organisations nest on Iraqi soil and as long as Turkey’s security needs require it to," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said.

Turkey has fought a four-decade war against the PKK, which are designated as a terrorist organisation by the EU, US and Ankara.

Hostilities against the group were reignited following the recent growth of the militants in northern Iraq and Syria.