Istanbul
(AsiaNews) - At least seven Turkish soldiers were killed in a bombing yesterday
afternoon in the vicinity of the town of Tunceli in 'Eastern Turkey: an armored
vehicle was targeted in a bomb attack by PKK guerrillas (Kurdistan Workers
Party), a group fighting for autonomy and whom the European Union consider a
terrorist training.
The 'attack was followed by a clash between the Turkish military and the PKK
militants, in which, according to army sources a member of the PKK was killed
and many of them were injured.
The area of Tunceli has a high density of the Kurdish population and has
become ground of fierce clashes between the PKK and the Turkish armed forces in
recent months.
The armed organization has caused heavy losses in the ranks of the Turkish
army, despite repeated sweeping operations, that have cost the lives of
hundreds of suspected PKK rebels.
A week ago, another attack resulted in the death of 10 Turkish soldiers and
wounded 60 others.
This latest attack by PKK Kurds underlines a worsening situation in
southeastern Turkey.
Mehmet Ali Birant, an authoritative voice of the intelligentsia, told the newspaper
Taraf that "the 'Turkish winter will be very heavy" due to the
continuing attacks by the PKK, which, according to Birand, "in the coming
months will target the big cities, particularly shopping malls".
The same Birant also hypothesizes the likelihood of a Kurdish civil war, given
the conflicting views within the Kurdish sphere. In any case, the Kurdish
scourge remains an open and bleeding wound throughout Turkey