Turkey

38 soldiers and rebels killed near Iraqi border

Article published on the 2008-10-04 Latest update 2008-10-04 13:09 TU

Turkish soldiers returning from duty at the Iraq border earlier this year
(Photo: Reuters)

Fighting in the south-east of Turkey left 38 dead on Saturday according to the Turkish army. An army spokesman said 15 Turkish soldiers and 23 Kurdish militants were killed when fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attacked a military post near the Iraqi border.

The military post is located in the town of Semdinli in Hakkari province and came under heave artillery fire from across the border in Iraq according to the army.

Correspondent Jasper Mortimer reported that the PKK fighters "bombarded the base with what the military described as 'heavy weapons' from the Iraqi side." He said that television pictures had shown several buildings in the military post flattened.

He described the attack as "very carefully timed". He said "I think the PKK wanted to send the Turkish government, the Turkish military, the Turkish people a very clear signal saying you know 'it doesn't matter how many times you invade northern Iraq we're still going to be here. Maybe you guys should think again and consider political negotiation'."

 

The Turkish army used artillery, attack helicopters and fighter jets during the fighting. Two soldiers remain missing, two more were injured and the army said it did not know how many militants were killed during the air strikes.

The fighting marks the end of a ceasefire declared by the PKK to mark the end of Ramadan.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had cancelled a planned visit to Ulan Bator in Mongolia. Speaking from Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat he said some members of the delegation would continue to Mongolia as planned but that he would return to Ankara.