ISTANBUL, Feb 28 (KUNA) -- The Turkish Army said Thursday that it killed 77 members of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) over the past few hours, bringing the total to 230 so far.
A statement by the army command said confrontations were breaking out from time to time between the army troops and rebels in four areas in northern Iraq, in which five soldiers were killed, bringing the death toll to 24.
Turkish fighter jets shelled 47 locations in northern Iraq, while helicopters and tanks continued heavy shelling throughout the day.
Ankara estimates the number of PKK rebels in northern Iraq at 4,000.
Some 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK -- classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EY and the US -- launched their rebellion in 1984. (end) ta.ema KUNA 281425 Feb 08NNNN