UPDATE - 13 terrorists neutralized in Turkey: Interior Ministry

UPDATES NUMBER OF NEUTRALIZED TERRORISTS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Orhan Onur Gemici and Aykut Karadag

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey neutralized 13 terrorists in the country, the Interior Ministry announced on Saturday.

Six terrorists were neutralized in air-backed operations carried out in the southeastern Sirnak province by the provincial Gendarmerie Command and the Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT), the ministry said.

In a separate statement, the ministry announced that Turkish security forces early Saturday neutralized seven terrorists in the countryside of eastern Agri province.

In Agri, the total number of neutralized terrorists reached 15 in the last three days, according to the ministry.

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

Though the statement did not mention a specific terrorist group, Turkey has long been conducting operations against the PKK in the country.

The ministry announced the operations continue in the regions.

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 many women, children and infants.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev and Busra Nur Bilgic Cakmak