Turkey 'neutralizes' 17 PKK terrorists over past week

By Burcu Calik

ANKARA

At least 17 PKK terrorists have been "neutralized" in counterterrorism operations across Turkey over the past week, the Defense Ministry said Friday.

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

In a statement, the ministry said the anti-terror operations were conducted between Nov. 2- 8 in the eastern and southeastern Turkish provinces of Tunceli, Mus, Diyarbakir and Hakkari as well as in northern Iraq.

During the operations, 71 terror shelters and 33 improvised explosives and mines were destroyed, while security forces seized 19 hand grenades, 24,250 kilograms (approx. 53.5 pound) of explosive materials, 109 kg (approx. 249 Ibs) of ammonium nitrate, seven guns and 14 rounds of rocket launcher ammunition.

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 women and children.