Turkish government 'did not reignite conflict'

ANKARA

The renewal of the terrorist attacks in Turkey was not the fault of the Turkish government, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Tuesday.

Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Kurtulmus said terrorism erupted after the July 20 Suruc massacre.

“These terror activities have reached the extent that will harm Turkey's peace and unity,” he told reporters.

He warned the terrorist organization PKK had moved towards civil war as it steps up its attacks on Turkish security forces. “After all, no country in any part of the world can remain unresponsive,” he said.

More than 120 members of the security forces have been martyred since late July. Nearly 30 civilians have died in the same period as a result of the conflict.

The solution process, officially initiated in early 2013, saw a pause in military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq.

The Turkish military claims to have killed nearly 1,200 PKK terrorists in ground and air operations between July 22 and Sept. 17.

Touching the refugee crisis, Kurtulmus said Turkey was hosting more than 2.2 million refugees and had spent $7.6 billion looking after them.