15 female PKK guerillas killed by Turkish army
Sunday 25 March 2012
Printable
EmailThe Turkish government said on Saturday that its forces had killed 15 Kurdish women fighters during clashes in the majority-Kurd province of Bitlis.
The guerillas were members of the separatist PKK, which is battling for Kurdish autonomy and has a number of female units.
The death toll is believed to be the largest for women in a single day since the group began its struggle 28 years ago. Dogan news agency said that fighting had continued "all day Friday."
A government-paid village guard who helped the Turkish army was also reportedly killed.
The incident came after a week of fighting between the army and the PKK, in which at least seven Turkish soldiers and 24 rebels have lost their lives.
Tensions have risen following a Turkish clampdown on Kurds attempting to celebrate the Nowruz, or new year, festival.
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Exploit Tory woes, Labour
Lord Feldman says that he didn't call grassroots Tories "mad swivel-eyed loons" while his accusers stand by their stories that he did.
Features
Let's get Britain back on track
As Aslef's annual assembly of delegates begins in Edinburgh tomorrow the general secretary explains the challenges his members - and workers across the country - face
The vicious cycle of eurozone decline
France is the latest to face clamour from the EU to enforce crippling 'structural reforms.' The medicine is killing the patient