Kurdish Fighters Say 13 Killed In Clash With Turkish Troops

Text of report by Ozgur Politika web site in Turkish on 29 June

The HPG [People's Defence Forces] has announced that seven soldiers and three guerrillas died in an engagement that took place in the Idil district of Sirnak on 24 June. One officer and two soldiers were killed in the action mounted by guerrillas in the rural area of Agri. The identities of the three guerrillas killed have been disclosed.

According to a statement issued by the HPG Press and Liaison Centre a group of HPG guerrillas engaged Turkish army forces near Hedile village, which lies between the Midyat district of Mardin and the Hezex (Idil) district of Sirnak on 24 June 2005. The engagement began at around 1500 gmt and continued into the late hours of the night resulting in at least seven soldiers being killed. Three HPG guerrillas also lost their lives.

The HPG Press and Liaison Centre has disclosed the identities of the dead guerrillas: Zahide Kurt (Norsin) born in Hakkari in 1979, M. Masuk Atuk (Mahir) born in Mardin/Midyat in 1981, and Kemal Ismailogullari born in Dogubeyazit on 1978.

The bodies of the guerrillas are reportedly being held at the morgue in the Idil State Hospital.

Also, HPG guerrillas mounted an action against Turkish Army units on their way to the Baskent Military Battalion located between Komurcuk and Incesu, part of the Dogubeyazit district of Agri, on 26 June 2005. One officer and two soldiers reportedly died in the engagement while two officers and 11 soldiers were seriously wounded. The military vehicle was destroyed.