Terrorist neutralized in southeastern Turkey

By Hamdi Celikbas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish police neutralized a terrorist during a security operation in the country’s southeast, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

The terrorist identified as Firat Simdi, code-named Roger, was neutralized in the Artuklu district of Mardin province, the ministry said. Counter-terrorism operations are continuing in the region.

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

Though the statement did not mention any specific terrorist group, Turkish forces have been conducting operations against the PKK terrorist organization in the region for over a long time.

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