Turkey gives U.S. no timeframe on Iraq operation

Turkey has given no clear timeframe for ending its military operations against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates told reporters on Thursday after talks with Turkish officials.

Gates also reiterated Washington's call for the operation, now in its seventh day, to be as short and carefully targeted as possible. Turkey's Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul said Turkish troops would withdraw once they had accomplished their goal.