ANKARA [MENL] -- Turkey has threatened to delay a decision for the
deployment of U.S. troops in preparation for the war against Iraq.Turkish officials said the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has
been dismayed by Washington's failure to agree to Ankara's demands for
compensation as well as by divisions within NATO to provide military help to
Ankara to defend against the prospect of an Iraqi missile attack. A Turkish
request to European members of the alliance for PAC-2 systems has been
delayed amid the NATO dispute.Last week, Ankara approved the deployment of 3,500 U.S. military
personnel to upgrade Turkish air force bases and sea ports in preparation
for combat troops, naval ships and aircraft. Turkey's parliament was
scheduled to vote next week on a proposal for the deployment of up to 40,000
U.S. troops in the war against Iraq.But the chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party, Recep
Erdogan, said Ankara might delay the parliamentary vote. Erdogan is regarded
as the most authoritative civilian voice in Turkey.
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