[NYTr] 35 dead in Turkey-Kurd clashes

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AFP - Oct 21, 2007
http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/071021114647.mcxd3kw1.html

35 dead in Turkey-Kurd clashes

ANAKARA (AFP) - Twenty-three Kurdish rebels and 12 Turkish soldiers
were killed Sunday in an attack on a military patrol in southeast
Turkey which the army blamed on Kurd separatists.

Clashes erupted after a large group of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
rebels, infiltrating from northern Iraq, attacked the soldiers shortly
after midnight Sunday, said a statement on the general staff's Internet
site.

Sixteen Turkish soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

Earlier reports from the region had 16 soldiers killed, 17 wounded and
about 10 missing, but made no mention of PKK casualties.

Fighting was continuing with helicopters providing cover for army
units, the statement said.

"Units are monitoring the escape routes of the terrorists" and heavy
artillery is pounding "63 likely targets in coordination with the troop
movements," the statement said.