At least 30 PKK suspects remanded across Turkey

IZMIR/MERSIN/MUS/KONYA, Turkey

At least 30 PKK suspects were remanded in custody Friday, according to judicial sources.

Sixteen were remanded in western Izmir province, while 17 others were released by the court. Eleven were released under judicial supervision.

The 44 suspects were arrested in an operation on March 16 on suspicion of being members of a terrorist group, and making propaganda for the PKK.

Meanwhile, four other PKK suspects were remanded in southern Mersin province, while 23 were released, 16 under judicial supervision.

The 27 suspects were arrested in an operation on March 18 on suspicion of planning illegal public demonstrations during the spring festival of Newroz on March 21.

In eastern Mus province, seven PKK suspects were sent back into custody including the provincial head of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Faruk Uygur.

Thirteen others were released by the court, four under judicial control.

In central Konya province, three PKK suspects were remanded in custody, while another was released under judicial supervision.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015.

Reporting by Mustafa Gungor, Yahya Zengin, Mustafa Yildirim and Metin Bolat;Writing by Emin Avundukluoglu