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Turkish troops killed by rebels Dozens die in Turkey border clash
(about 1 hour later)
At least 12 Turkish soldiers have been killed in clashes with Kurdish rebels near the border with Iraq. Fighting between Turkish soldiers and Kurdish rebels near the border with Iraq has left 12 soldiers and 23 rebels dead, said Turkish military officials.
The soldiers were killed in an ambush blamed on guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. The army sent reinforcements, including helicopters, to the area after soldiers were ambushed early Sunday morning.
Turkey's military said the army had killed 23 PKK rebels in the fighting that followed the attack. The clashes come days after Turkey's parliament authorised the army to cross the border into Iraq to pursue rebels.
The clashes come days after Turkey's parliament authorised the military to launch cross-border incursions into Iraq to hunt rebels based in the area. The vote followed attacks blamed on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which killed nearly 30 troops and civilians.
The vote followed a series of attacks blamed on the PKK in which almost 30 soldiers and civilians were killed. Not far from the scene of the fighting, in south-eastern Hakkari province, an explosion from a landmine hit a minibus injuring 10 people, the state news agency Anatolia said.
Elsewhere in south-east Turkey, an explosion hit a minibus injuring 10 people, Turkish television reported. Call for unity
Increased pressure A statement from the Turkish military said a large group of PKK rebels had crossed the border from Iraq and launched their attack shortly after midnight.
The ambush on the soldiers took place in south-eastern Hakkari province near the town of Yuksekova, state news agency Anatolia said.
The rebels attacked with heavy weapons, also wounding a number of soldiers, Turkish media reported.The rebels attacked with heavy weapons, also wounding a number of soldiers, Turkish media reported.
A pro-rebel website said that some Turkish soldiers had been taken hostage.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Turkish television that the country's security officials would hold an emergency meeting later on Sunday to consider their response.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Turkish television that the country's security officials would hold an emergency meeting later on Sunday to consider their response.
He called for "unity and solidarity" and said he was "resolved to deal with these matters in a cool-headed manner".
He urged the media to show restraint in its reporting of the situation.
Increased pressure
Kurdish officials in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region said Turkish artillery had fired across the border but there had been no casualties.Kurdish officials in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region said Turkish artillery had fired across the border but there had been no casualties.
About 3,000 PKK fighters are believed to be based in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul.About 3,000 PKK fighters are believed to be based in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul.
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There have been regular clashes in the area since earlier in the year, but the latest attack has caused some of the biggest military losses in some time.There have been regular clashes in the area since earlier in the year, but the latest attack has caused some of the biggest military losses in some time.
The clashes will increase pressure on the government from the public and the military to do something about Kurdish rebels based in Iraq, our correspondent says.The clashes will increase pressure on the government from the public and the military to do something about Kurdish rebels based in Iraq, our correspondent says.
On Wednesday, parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion to allow the military to launch offensives into Iraq to pursue Kurdish rebels.On Wednesday, parliament voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion to allow the military to launch offensives into Iraq to pursue Kurdish rebels.
THE PKK Formed in late 1970sLaunched armed struggle in 1984Dropped independence demands in 1990sWants greater autonomy for Turkey's KurdsLeader Abdullah Ocalan arrested in 1999Ended five-year ceasefire in 2004 Profile: The PKK Turkey's tense border Send us your comments
The United States, Turkey's Nato ally, has led international calls for restraint.The United States, Turkey's Nato ally, has led international calls for restraint.
The US and Iraq fear any incursions would destabilise Iraq's most peaceful area - the autonomous Kurdish region in the north.The US and Iraq fear any incursions would destabilise Iraq's most peaceful area - the autonomous Kurdish region in the north.
Turkey has been urging the US and Iraq to do something about the PKK rebels based in the remote, mountainous area along the border with Turkey.Turkey has been urging the US and Iraq to do something about the PKK rebels based in the remote, mountainous area along the border with Turkey.
THE PKK Formed in late 1970sLaunched armed struggle in 1984Dropped independence demands in 1990sWants greater autonomy for Turkey's KurdsLeader Abdullah Ocalan arrested in 1999Ended five-year ceasefire in 2004 Profile: The PKK Turkey's tense border
The parliamentary vote is a sign that Turkey is serious about wanting its allies and neighbours to help tackle the PKK, says our correspondent.The parliamentary vote is a sign that Turkey is serious about wanting its allies and neighbours to help tackle the PKK, says our correspondent.
Washington lists the PKK as a terrorist organisation but has said Turkey should work with Iraq to solve the problem.Washington lists the PKK as a terrorist organisation but has said Turkey should work with Iraq to solve the problem.
Iraqi leaders have said they are determined to end the PKK's activities in Iraq but have urged Turkey not to make an incursion.Iraqi leaders have said they are determined to end the PKK's activities in Iraq but have urged Turkey not to make an incursion.
The autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq warned Turkish MPs that any intervention would be "illegal" and has denied providing the PKK with any help.The autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq warned Turkish MPs that any intervention would be "illegal" and has denied providing the PKK with any help.
The rebels themselves said they would fight any Turkish forces which cross the border.The rebels themselves said they would fight any Turkish forces which cross the border.
More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for greater autonomy for the largely-Kurdish south-eastern Turkey since 1984.More than 30,000 people have been killed since the PKK began fighting for greater autonomy for the largely-Kurdish south-eastern Turkey since 1984.
Demands for a separate Kurdish state were dropped in the 1990s.Demands for a separate Kurdish state were dropped in the 1990s.