Turkey says PKK attacks block peace process with Kurds

The Turkish government could not continue the peace process with the Kurds amid continuing attacks from the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"It is not possible to carry on peace process with those who target our national unity and brotherhood," Erdogan told reporters in Ankara before departing to China.

The government was "sincere" about the settlement process which aimed to end three decade old Kurdish insurgency, but the process was "exploited" by the Kurds, he stated.

The president was referring to recent attacks by the PKK against the Turkish security forces, which was followed by cross-border military operations against the group's positions in northern Iraq last week.

The government also detained more than 1000 people in one week in police raids against the PKK, Islamic State (IS) and DHKP-C members in whole Turkey.

The president also called on the Turkish parliament to strip immunity from prosecution for some lawmakers from pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HDP), saying that they should "pay the price for links to terrorist groups."

The peace process, which aims to end the 30-year conflict between Turkey and the PKK insurgents, was initiated in 2013, but was soon stalled with no real progress.

However, the government suspended the settlement process to preserve nationalist votes during the June 7 parliamentary election campaign.

The PKK, which claimed the lives of over 40,000 people, is still listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, United States and the European Union. Endit