Turk Cabinet nears U.S. troop deal
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U.S. soldiers stand next to vehicles in the Turkish port of Iskenderun on Monday as equipment is offloaded.
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SPECIAL REPORT
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ANKARA, Turkey (CNN) -- Turkey's deputy prime minister says "almost all" Cabinet members have agreed to a deal that would allow U.S. combat troops on Turkish soil.
Turkey is expected to win billions of dollars in U.S. lending if it allows Washington to launch an attack over its southern border with Iraq. The United States has been pushing hard for approval from its NATO ally as the two countries negotiate a compensation package and military agreements.
Signatures from all Cabinet members are needed to send the proposal to parliament, and officials are expressing optimism they will be able to get them, Abdullatif Sener said Monday. Parliament is expected to consider the issue Tuesday.
The Cabinet meeting has been going on all day.
Sener said a final agreement still has not been reached with the United States and he does not expect to have the final memorandum of understanding ready for Tuesday.
The government will ask parliament to discuss and approve a general agreement allowing the troops to be stationed in and move through Turkey.
Washington wants to use Turkish territory and military bases to launch a secondary, "northern front" that would relieve a main invasion into Iraq's south. A second front could shorten any war and cut the number of American casualties.
The troop deal envisages some $6 billion in grants and about $10 billion in loan guarantees to Turkey to shore up its economy against the impact of any war, U.S. officials have said.
Turkey feels it was never properly compensated for damage it suffered because of the 1991 Gulf War and is determined to ensure its interests are protected this time.
The United States has expressed frustration over a delay in a parliamentary vote on the issue, which was initially expected last week.
