Iraq rejects entry of PKK militants withdrawn from Turkey BAGHDAD, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Iraq on Thursday rejected the withdrawal of Kurdish PKK fighters from Turkey into its territories to avoid the possibility of undermining security and stability in Iraq, The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Iraqi government welcome a peaceful settlement for the Kurdish issue in Turkey, but it "does not accept the entry of such armed groups into Iraq's territories that could be used to undermine the security and stability of Iraq or in the neighboring countries," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. The statement came a day after fighters of the Kurdish Workers' Party PKK started withdrawal from Turkey into their stronghold in northern Iraq. According to Turkish media reports, about 2,000 militants would leave Turkey on foot from Wednesday, traveling through the mountainous border zone to their base in Kandil Mountains in northern Iraq. Acting PKK leader Murat Karayilan announced in April that the group would begin withdrawal from the Turkish territory on May 8. Karayilan said the withdrawal is expected to take three to four months. Ankara has been holding peace negotiations with Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader of the PKK, since last October. Turkey insisted that the PKK must first lay down their arms and leave the Turkish territory. On March 21, Ocalan finally made a historic call for PKK's ceasefire and withdrawal, which was positively responded by his militant group.