EU concerned at Turkish attacks in northern Iraq

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union expressed concern on Monday at Turkey's air raids on Kurdish separatist targets in northern Iraq and urged Ankara to show restraint.

"The Presidency calls on the Turkish authorities to exercise restraint, to respect the territorial integrity of Iraq and refrain from taking any military action that could undermine regional peace and stability," EU president Portugal said in a statement.

The Turkish military said it attacked targets of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party on Sunday with the approval of U.S. occupying forces in Iraq. The United States said only that it had been informed in advance of the operation.

Turkish ground forces also shelled areas where the rebels were based, an army statement said. Turkey's NTV television said 50 aircraft had taken part in the three-hour operation.

Ankara's faltering EU entry bid is expected to move forward on Wednesday with the opening of talks on two more negotiating "chapters", or policy areas, despite opposition from countries such as France, which argues that Turkey is not European.

Separately, the EU's executive European Commission denounced the stabbing of an Italian priest in the western Turkish town of Izmir on Sunday.

"The Commission condemns in the strongest possible terms this hideous attack," Commission spokeswoman Krizstina Nagy said.

"We wish the priest, Adriano Franchini, a speedy recovery. We trust that the perpetrators will be brought to justice as soon as possible."

The attack on Franchini recalled the fatal shooting of another Italian priest in 2006. His life was not in danger and three people had been detained, police said.

The European Union has long complained that Turkey fails to fully protect religious freedoms of its tiny Christian minority.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; editing by Dale Hudson)