ISTANBUL/ANKARA

Turkish security forces on Saturday "neutralized" five PKK terrorists who were cornered earlier today in the eastern Tunceli province, the Interior Ministry said.

"As part of homeland security operations, 5 female terrorists were neutralized with their weapons in an operation launched by the Gendarmerie Special Operations Forces in a cave in the Kutu Deresi area of Tunceli," the ministry announced in a tweet.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The cornered terrorists were being followed for a long time, Suleyman Soylu told a meeting in Istanbul earlier today.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women and children.