Turkey: Wanted PKK terrorist neutralized in east

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) - A wanted PKK terrorist code-named Eren Karker was neutralized Sunday in the eastern province of Bitlis, Turkey's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a written statement, the ministry said the terrorist was identified as Unal Dinar and was neutralized within the scope of a security operation in the countryside.

The terrorist was in the orange category of the Interior Ministry's wanted list, the statement said, adding that he was sought with a 600,000 Turkish lira (around $103,000) bounty on his head.

Separately, Turkish gendarmerie forces also neutralized a terrorist in the countryside of Yenice village of Bitlis.

Operations are ongoing in the region, the statement said.

Turkey's wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red being most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

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 nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev