5 terrorists 'neutralized' in southeastern Turkey

By Sefa Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces neutralized five terrorists in an air-backed operation in the southeastern province of Siirt, the Interior Ministry said Sunday.

The gendarmerie carried out a counter-terrorism operation in the rural areas of Siirt's Pervari district, said a ministry statement.

The statement said eight terrorists were neutralized overall on Sunday.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

The operation is still underway, the statement added.

Although the statement did not mention any specific terrorist group, Turkish forces have long been conducting operations against the terrorist group PKK in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.