UPDATE - PKK terrorists martyr 1 civilian in SE Turkey

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY

By Sayim Harmanci and Hamdi Celikbas

HAKKARI/ANKARA (AA) - At least one construction worker was martyred and two others were injured in an attack by PKK terrorists in southeastern Turkey, local officials said Wednesday.

According to an official statement, PKK/KCK targeted the Derecik district of Hakkari province.

Turkey's National Defense Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack, offering condolences to the martyred worker and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

The attack site is being subjected to intense firing from air and land and operations are underway to arrest the terrorists, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, security forces "neutralized" at least five terrorists in southeastern Turkey, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The PKK terrorists were plotting an attack and were "neutralized" in the Semdinli district of Hakkari, the ministry said on Twitter.

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

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

* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara