Cross-border military operations in northern Iraq will continue, said

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan. He also confirmed that Turkey and Iran are taking joint steps against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party).

Erdoðan and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were set to meet Friday night but the meeting was postponed to Saturday.

Erdoðan said Turkey’s cross-border military operations will continue as planned because Turkey's decision on this issue is “clear.” Erdoðan told reporters after meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Friday that he expressed Turkey’s position on cross-border operation against the PKK in northern Iraq to the Iraqi president and that he didn’t question if this is a problem or not for the Iraqi side. “These [operations] will continue,” Erdoðan underlined.

Erdoðan, repeating the call made by President Abdullah Gül, also called on the PKK to lay down arms which he said will naturally result in halt in military operations against the terrorist organization.