Turkish forces kill 3 Kurdish rebels
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Turkish forces have killed three Kurdish rebels, the local governor said on Sunday, the latest in a string of clashes in southeast Turkey despite a unilateral Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) ceasefire.
Soldiers also seized 56 kg (124 lb) of explosives, 110 hand-grenades and other ordnance, the Sirnak province governor's office said in a statement, after five soldiers were wounded in the area this week in mine blasts blamed on the PKK.
The rebel group, which started its armed campaign for a Kurdish homeland in 1984, launched a ceasefire on Oct. 1 and said it would not carry out attacks but would defend itself if attacked.
But the army and government have dismissed the ceasefire as a publicity stunt and security forces have continued to hunt down guerrillas over the past six weeks.
Ankara, like the United States and European Union, considers the PKK a terrorist organisation, and blames it for more than 30,000 deaths since 1984. A previous ceasefire was called off in 2004.
Soldiers also seized 56 kg (124 lb) of explosives, 110 hand-grenades and other ordnance, the Sirnak province governor's office said in a statement, after five soldiers were wounded in the area this week in mine blasts blamed on the PKK.
The rebel group, which started its armed campaign for a Kurdish homeland in 1984, launched a ceasefire on Oct. 1 and said it would not carry out attacks but would defend itself if attacked.
But the army and government have dismissed the ceasefire as a publicity stunt and security forces have continued to hunt down guerrillas over the past six weeks.
Ankara, like the United States and European Union, considers the PKK a terrorist organisation, and blames it for more than 30,000 deaths since 1984. A previous ceasefire was called off in 2004.
posted by Marko at 11/12/2006 10:32:00 AM
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