Mullen says U.S. abides by Montreux Convention

The U.S. warships delivering humanitarian aid for Georgia have abided the 1936 Montreux Convention, Mullen told Monday a press conference in Ankara said after his separate meetings with Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

He also said the U.S. has not demanded a change in the convention.

The U.S. would also continue to share intelligence with Turkey against the outlawed separatist PKK, Mullen added.

"The struggle with the terrorists should continue. We, as the United States, will maintain our support to Turkey, as such a demand continues," he said.

Turkey, provided with intelligence by the United States, has stepped up military action against the outlawed separatist PKK since December. Turkey has been carrying out several air strikes and a week-long ground incursion into northern Iraq in February, where more than 2,000 PKK terrorists take refuge.Â

The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by much of the international community including the United States and the EU.

Photo: AP