3 PKK terrorists killed in SE Turkey

By Mustafa Yıldırım, Necat Hazar and Hasan Namli

VAN/IZMIR (AA) - Three PKK terrorists were killed in southeastern Turkey, according to a statement issued early Friday by Diyarbakir provincial governor's office.

The terrorists were killed late Thursday in Hazro district's Kirmatas village during an exchange of fire between security forces and PKK terrorists. A suspected PKK collaborator was apprehended, the statement added.

Terrorist Tanis Memis, the perpetrator of the martyred specialist gendarmerie officer Mehmet Kizilca in October, was among those killed.

Improvised explosives and ammunition were also seized, the statement said.

On Friday morning, 11 PKK suspects were arrested in the western Turkish coastal province of Izmir.

Security sources said the suspects were apprehended during an operation in Izmir's city center and in the Menemen district by provincial forces and intelligence services.

Security forces also found photos of dead terrorists in 15 homes.

In addition, explosive materials were seized during an anti-terror operation Thursday in Turkey's eastern Van province, the governorship said in a statement.

Provincial security forces seized two Howitzers and a total of 2,775 kilograms of improvised explosives in the district of Muradiye.