Turkey: 41 PKK terrorists neutralized over past week

By Ilkay Guder

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces have neutralized 41 terrorists in operations at home and abroad over the past week, according to the National Defense Ministry on Friday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The ministry said in a written statement that the operations continued in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Mardin, and Sirnak, where PKK/KCK terrorists usually hide and use as a route inside Turkey.

During the operations between Nov. 23-29, 11 infantry rifles, an antitank weapon, 998 various small arms ammunition, 335 kilograms (738 pounds) of ammonium nitrate, and 6 kilograms (13 pounds) of C-4 explosive material were destroyed among others.

Forty-four weapon pits, shelters and depots belonging to the terrorists were also destroyed.

Meanwhile, during contraband operations, security forces seized over 74 kilograms (163 pounds) of drugs, and 88,700 packs of smuggled cigarettes.