UPDATE 2 - 8 PKK terrorists neutralized in southeastern Turkey

UPDATES WITH MARTYRED SOLDIER, ADDS MORE DETAILS, REVISED DECK

By Merve Yildizalp, Cankut Tasdan and Muhammed Boztepe

ANKARA (AA) - Eight terrorists were "neutralized" in Turkey's southeastern Sirnak province, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

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

The statement said gendarmerie forces carried out an operation in Sirnak’s Idil district.

Later on Sunday, security sources said that Lt. Safak Evran had been martyred in the operation against the PKK terror group.

Two of the neutralized terrorists was identified as Emine Toy and Yilmaz Begic, both from the Interior Ministry’s most wanted terrorist list, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

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 nearly 40,000 people, including many women and children.

* Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet, Ekrem Payan contributed from Sirnak