PKK kills five soldiers in eastern Turkey

Five Turkish soldiers were killed and one wounded in a clash with the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) members in eastern Turkey, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The statement issued by Tunceli Governor's Office said the clash between the Turkish security forces and a group of PKK members took place in Cirali village of the province Wednesday morning.

Supported by helicopters, the security forces have launched a large-scale operation in the region in pursuit of the PKK members who ran away after the clash, added the statement.

The PKK has intensified landmine and remote-controlled bombing attacks in Turkey over the past few months.

At least 200 Turkish soldiers have been reportedly killed in clashes with PKK since this year.

More than 37,000 people have been killed since the rebel group took up arms against the government for an independent Kurdish state in the mainly Kurdish southeastern area in 1984.

Violence resurged since the group called off a unilateral five- year ceasefire in 2004.

Source: Xinhua