The Bush administration is denying allegations it backed Turkey’s latest attack on Kurdish areas in northern Iraq. The Washington Post revealed Tuesday the US military had been sharing intelligence with Turkey gathered from aircraft and unmanned drones. Hundreds of Turkish ground troops are said to be in northern Iraq following air raids on Iraqi villages. On a visit to Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US had not approved Turkey’s actions.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: “This was a Turkish decision, and we have made clear to the Turkish government that we continue to be concerned about anything that could lead to innocent civilian casualties or to a destabilization of the north.”

Rice was due to meet with top Kurdish officials. But Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani refused the meeting, saying the Turkish raid could not have happened without US backing.

Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani: “As I explained to you, the United States supervises (Iraq’s) air space, so it is not possible that a violation of this air space occurs without the knowledge or approval of the Americans. The United States is holding the responsibility of these attacks that harmed innocent civilians. We hope that such things will not be repeated again, because the result will not be good.”