Fresh curfews declared in 25 villages of SE Turkey

By Aziz Aslan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

New curfews have been declared early Tuesday in 25 villages of Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir province, which has been the scene of ongoing anti-terror operations against the PKK terrorist organization.

Security forces will begin new operations in order to locate and destroy explosive devices planted by the PKK in the Lice, Hani, and Silvan districts, the Diyarbakir Governor's office confirmed Tuesday.

No details were provided regarding the nature of the curfew or its duration.

The Turkish Armed Forces, in cooperation with police, has launched broad anti-terror operations - namely in the eastern provinces of Mus, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Sirnak, Hakkari, Van, and Bingol - aimed at clearing cities of PKK terrorists, filling in trenches, removing barricades, and destroying explosive traps.

The PKK - listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S., and the EU - resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state about 11 months ago.

Since then, nearly 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred, and more than 5,000 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Humeyra Atilgan Buyukovali contributed to this report from Istanbul.