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49 PKK rebels killed in Turkey, Iraq

Xinhua, October 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Forty-nine rebels of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in the military operations in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq on Saturday and Sunday, a Turkish military statement said.

A total of 14 PKK members were killed during air raids on Saturday in southeastern Lice town of Diyarbakir and 35 PKK members were killed on Sunday during the air raids in Metina and Zap regions in northern Iraq, according to the statement issued by the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Shelters, caves and arms used by rebels were destroyed during the military operations in eastern and southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq on Saturday and Sunday, the statement added.

Over 2,000 PKK militants have been killed since July in over 4,300 operations of Turkish security forces, Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok said.

The Turkish authorities have declared security zones or military forbidden zones in 231 regions of 22 provinces, the semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted Altinok as saying.

A total of 255,000 police officers and 130,000 soldiers will be deployed to secure the early elections on Nov. 1, the minister said.

PKK declared unilateral cease fire on Saturday, saying that they will avoid armed actions unless they face an attack.

Tension has been running high, especially in southeastern Turkey, amid a major military operation against PKK militants since July when a cease-fire fell apart.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. Endit