Bomb derails freight train in eastern Turkey

A freight train derailed in eastern Turkey today after suspected Kurdish rebels detonated a remote-controlled bomb on the tracks, officials said.

There were no casualties in the train blast, the third in less than a week.

The attack occurred just six days after two similar remote-control attacks derailed two trains in south-east Turkey, killing six security guards. Officials said the attackers used C-4 plastic explosives in those attacks.

Today’s attack occurred near the small town of Altunkent, in Erzincan province. The train was travelling to nearby Erzurum province.

Erzurum Gov Celalettin Guvenc said the train’s seven cars came off the rails and overturned.

Erzincan is some 450 miles east of Ankara, the capital.

Kurdish rebels have been fighting for autonomy in the region since 1984. The conflict has claimed the lives of some 37,000 people.

The rebels have recently stepped up attacks, exploding remote-controlled bombs on roads used by military vehicles almost daily.

Today, another remote controlled bomb exploded as a military vehicle passed by in the province Osmaniye in southern Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported. There were no casualties.

Turkish security forces, which have stepped up operations against militants, killed a suspected member of an outlawed leftist militant organisation in Tunceli, eastern Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported today. The report did not specify the organisation to which the militant belonged.