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Turkey: Soldier killed in clash with Kurd separatists
[ADN Kronos] A Turkish soldier was killed and three others were injured on Thursday in a clash between security forces and Kurdish separatists in the southeast of the country. The Anatolian news agency said the conflict took place in the Bestler-Dereler region in the southeastern province of Sirnak.News agencies earlier reported Turkish security forces had conducted a widespread ground operation in the region backed by military helicopters. The clash comes three days after the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced it would halt its armed attacks against Turkish targets until 15 July. In April, the organisation announced it would suspend armed attacks until 1 June. However, Turkish media have reported dozens of Turkish soldiers have been killed in attacks carried out by the PKK during that period. Turkish army chief Ilker Basbug rejected calls for the army to cease operations as a peace overture to the PKK, in comments published in the Hurriyet newspaper on Thursday. "Nobody should expect the Turkish armed forces to cease operations for peace or stay quiet or stand in the corner," he said. "I will neither stop nor wait for the terrorists to come. On the contrary, I will seek them out and exterminate them." Posted by: 2009-06-05 |
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