Turkey: Seven killed in troops and rebels clashes

Turkish troops killed four Kurdish rebels in four days of clashes in south-eastern Turkey, a news report said today. Three soldiers were also killed.

The Turkish soldiers have been battling autonomy-seeking Kurdish insurgents near the town of town of Pervari in the province of Siirt since Tuesday, the Anatolia news agency said.

The troops, backed by attack helicopters, killed four rebels in the clashes, suffering three losses of their own, Anatolia said.

More than 25 Turkish soldiers or policemen have been killed in rebel attacks since June 1. Turkish troops have killed more than 65 rebels in the same period.

The guerrillas declared a ceasefire in 1999 after the capture of their leader, Abdullah Ocalan, but ended their truce on June 1, saying that Turkey had not responded in kind.

The rebels began a war for autonomy in 1984, a fight that has left 37,000 dead.