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Turkish soldier killed in clashes with Kurdish rebels

Xinhua, August 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

One Turkish soldier was killed and several others wounded in clashes between the Turkish security forces and the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in southeastern Turkey from Monday night to Tuesday, a military statement said.

The clashes erupted in Lice town of Diyarbakir province in southeastern Turkey, leaving four Turkish soldiers wounded, said the statement released by the Turkish General Staff.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last Tuesday vowed to continue military operations against the PKK until the disarmament of the group.

"We will persevere in our struggle until they lay down and bury their arms, and until the last terrorist leaves the country," Erdogan said.

Tensions between Turkish security forces and the PKK are increasing following an Islamic State (IS) suicide bombing on July 20, killing 32 individuals and injuring 104 activists in the town of Suruc in the Sanliurfa province bordering Syria.

According to a statement from the Turkish prime minister's office, Turkish security forces have detained over 1,300 individuals with suspected ties to the IS, PKK and leftist groups, whilst the military unleashed several rounds of air strikes on PKK posts in northern Iraq. Endit