Tunceli - Thousands of Turkish troops are pursuing Kurdish separatist rebels in northern Turkey, where the guerrillas have begun to operate for the first time in 13 years of conflict, security officials said yesterday. "Up to 4,000 troops and around 300 members of the crack police unit launched an operation three days ago in a triangle of territory where the provinces of Sivas, Tokat and Ordu meet." They are attacking about 50 members of the Kurdistan Workers Party, who had originally been based in the eastern province of Tunceli.
Anatolian news agency said the guerrillas were reported to have penetrated into the area after coming under attack in the mainly Kurdish south- east.