US sanctions Kurdish separatists
October 15th, 2009 - 8:09 am ICT by IANSWashington, Oct 15 (DPA) The United States placed sanctions Wednesday on the leader of Kurdish separatists operating in northern Iraq, accusing Murat Karayilan of trafficking in narcotics.
The US Treasury Department sanctions against Karayilan and two other senior leaders, Ali Riza Altun and Zubayir Aydar, freeze any assets they might have in the US and ban US citizens from engaging in any business with the three men.
Karayilan heads the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which seeks an autonomous state on Turkish territory. The PKK has been operating in northern Iraq and has carried out hundreds of attacks inside Turkey.
The US government regards the PKK as a terrorist organisation. The US says the PKK has been involved in drug trafficking for decades.
- Turkey launches military operations in northern Iraq - Oct 21, 2011
- Turkish jets bomb targets in northern Iraq - Jun 21, 2010
- Kurdish militants attack Turkish convoy, kill 7 soldiers - Sep 19, 2012
- US names Al Qaeda-linked outfit as terrorist entity - Jan 06, 2012
- US sanctions target Mexican drug lord's business - Jul 24, 2012
- Eight Turkish soldiers killed near Iraqi border - Jun 19, 2010
- 1.3 tonnes hashish seized in Turkey - Jan 06, 2012
- Turkish army holds drills on Syria border - Aug 02, 2012
- 17 dead in Turkey clash - Jul 01, 2010
- Smugglers in Iraq Blunt Sanctions Against Tehran - Jul 09, 2010
- 13 rebels killed in Turkish air raids inside Iraq - Feb 13, 2009
- US imposes sanctions on Hezbollah leaders - Sep 14, 2012
- 6 killed in Turkey clash - Jun 22, 2010
- US sanctions Dawood aides Chhota Shakeel, Tiger Memon - May 16, 2012
- US slaps sanctions against Chhota Shakeel, Tiger Memon (Lead) - May 16, 2012
Tags: ali riza, altun, assets, autonomous state, citizens, decades, drug trafficking, kurdish separatists, kurdistan, kurdistan workers party, murat, narcotics, northern iraq, pkk, terrorist organisation, three men, treasury department, turkey, us government, us treasury department