20000112

12 killed in

Turkey clashes

ISTANBUL: Six Turkish soldiers and six Kurdish rebels were killed on Monday in clashes in the southeastern province of Tunceli, Anatolia news agency reported.

Authorities in Diyarbakir, the capital of the emergency rule region in southeastern Anatolia, said "terrorists" opened fire on the troops and killed six soldiers. The six rebels were killed in the ensuing battle.

The rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) last year called a halt to its 15-year armed campaign for Kurdish autonomy in the region and began withdrawing troops from Turkish soil.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit last week confirmed that fighting in the area had died down to "almost zero".

But the PKK warned on Friday that two small rebel groups had refused to obey orders to leave Turkey.

"These people are no longer linked to our group," the statement said. "The party is no longer responsible for their lives or what they may do in the future".

More than 36,500 soldiers, rebels and civilians have died in the conflict in southeastern Turkey since 1984.

PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan was captured, tried and sentenced to death for treason last year.

His fate is the subject of heated debate. The ruling coalition is to meet on Wednesday to decide whether or not to support his execution.ÑAFP