Amid tensions over a border crisis in the wake of rising attacks against the Turkish army by the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party based in northern Iraq, the Turkish people celebrates a more emotional Republic Day on Monday.
Students wave flags during a parade marking the 84th anniversary of Republic Day in Cizre, Turkey near the Iraqi border, October 29, 2007.
Waving the national flag and pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the revered founding father of the modern Turkish Republic in 1923, thousands took to streets to mark the 84th anniversary of the founding of the republic, while expressing their pride as citizens of the republic and support for the government.
In Ankara, the celebrations started with President Abdullah Gul and state dignitaries laying a wreath in Ataturk's mausoleum, and then continued in the Ataturk Cultural Center arena at the Hippodrome, where thousands rallied amid heightened security.
The celebrations reached a climax when a grand parade by NATO's second largest military was held.
In an impressive display of military might, thousands of Turkish troops marched proudly before President Gul, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and top generals at the Ataturk Cultural Center arena, which were followed by cavalries.
After the parade, armed vehicles, tanks along with missile launchers rolled by amid the claps and cheers of the spectators.
Overhead, low-flying helicopters with soldiers hanging down from them on strings hovered around, which were followed by dozens of F-16 warplanes and the acrobatic flying teams, whose performances aroused cheers and whistles from the crowd.
"I am so proud. I am so proud of the 84 years of the Turkish Republic," said a 46-year-old engineer.
Young men struck a more emotional note over the provocative actions of the PKK which killed 12 soldiers in an attack on October 21.
"Turks are born soldiers, we are not afraid of fighting PKK rebels, and we are ready to die guarding our country," said one of them, adding "we'll get ready and stand behind our government's decision if it decides to fight against the PKK."
Turkish troops on armoured vehicles attend the Republic Day parade in Istanbul, October 29, 2007, marking the 84th anniversary of foundation of republic in Turkey.
Rallies and military parade are also staged at Turkey's largest city and business hub Istanbul.
Turkey is considering a cross-border incursion into northern Iraq after PKK attacks over the past few weeks have left 47civilians and soldiers dead.
Turkish security forces continue to pursue intense operations against the PKK terrorists on Monday, semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.
Security forces blocked the pathways of PKK terrorists from Turkish border to the north of Iraq, causing the besiegement of nearly 100 terrorists in Ikiyaka mountains in southeastern province of Hakkari, said Anatolia, adding operations from both land and air still continue in the region.
However, the Republic Day celebrations came after week-long demonstrations against PKK attacks, some of which went so far as to having raised the fear of a Turk-Kurd polarization, prompting officials from the state's top echelons to issue calls for unity.
Anger against the PKK attacks went out of control in some places, where protestors attacked the local headquarters of the Democratic Society Party, the largest pro-Kurdish group in Turkey, and buildings of the association of African Turks as well as socialist parties.
In a message issued ahead of the day, President Gul stressed on Sunday that unity and integrity is the most important thing necessary to overcome obstacles and to be stronger as a nation.
"Just as we stood together as one people in the War for Independence, we continue to struggle today to overcome all obstacles in unity," said Gul.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a separate message on Sunday, also called for unity between Turks and Kurds and reiterated the government's determination to fight northern Iraq-based PKK terrorists.
The terrorist organization of PKK is not the representatives of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin, he stressed.
As long as Turkish citizens come together and join their forces instead of feeling doubts about each other, terrorist attacks cannot reach their target, said Erdogan.
The premier vowed that Turkey will maintain the atmosphere of confidence and stability, its unity and solidarity and the fundamental values of the Republic.
Though the parliament earlier this month gave authorization for a military incursion into northern Iraq targeting the PKK bases there, diplomatic efforts are still continuing at an intensified pace in a bid to find a solution excluding military action.
(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2007)
