LOC09:38
06:38 GMT
ISTANBUL, July 9 (KUNA) -- One Turkish soldier was killed and another
injured in a clash that erupted between members of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) and Turkish security forces in the eastern province of
Tunceli on Friday.
Turkey's daily Zaman reported on its website that a Turkish soldier was
killed and another wounded in a gunfight between security forces and PKK
rebels.
Turkish soldiers have been clashing with the PKK for the past few days in
the Pulumur district of Tunceli province. Two soldiers were also injured in
clashes on Thursday as a large-scale military operation is under way in the
region.
The PKK has recently stepped up its attacks in Turkey's east and southeast.
Two soldiers were shot dead by unknown assailants in the southeastern province
of Hakkari on Tuesday.
The attacks come in spite of a recent statement by jailed PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan, delivered through his lawyers, in which he said he had
decided to prolong a unilateral cease-fire his group had declared last summer.
The PKK refers to its cease-fire as a "non-attack" decision.
Ocalan's lawyers also said he believes the continuation of the cease-fire
will contribute to a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue.
The PKK has been declared a terrorist organization by the international
community, including the US and the EU. (end)
ta.mt
KUNA 090938 Jul 11NNNN