Tunceli - Turkish armed forces killed 27 Kurdish guerrillas yesterday in response to the killing of six soldiers in a rebel ambush, local officials said. Rebels loyal to the captured Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader, Mr Abdullah Ocalan, ambushed soldiers. Troops responded by launching an operation backed by USmade Super Cobra strike helicopters to track down the guerrillas.
More than 29,000 people have died in the 14-year conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which is fighting for self-rule in the mainly Kurdish south-east.