KurdistanObserver.com

Kurd Rebels kill 5 Turk Soldiers, Clashes Continue

TUNCELI, (Dersim, Northern Kurdistan), Oct 12 (Reuters) - Kurdish rebels killed five Turkish soldiers on Wednesday after troops tracked down a group of guerrillas in a steep valley during a large operation in the east of Turkey, a military official said.

Some 8,000 Turkish soldiers, backed by helicopters, began an operation throughout the mountainous province of Tunceli late on Sunday and came across a large group of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels near the village of Cirali overnight.

Five soldiers were killed in the ensuing gunbattle, the military official said. More soldiers were being airlifted into the Kutuderesi valley, a long gorge stretching north of the town of Tunceli passing Cirali village.

Clashes were continuing, the official said.

Tunceli, one of Turkey's poorest provinces, is covered in steep, forested mountains riddled with caves. Kurdish rebels have long held out in Tunceli, enduring many such operations.