UPDATE - Terrorist on wanted list neutralized in eastern Turkey

UPDATES INTERIOR MINISTRY STATEMENT; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Cankut Tasdan and Burak Bir

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish security forces neutralized a terrorist in the eastern Tunceli province as part of efforts to ensure domestic security, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

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

The terrorist was neutralized in an operation carried out by the local gendarmerie forces in the rural area of Tunceli, the ministry said in a tweet.

The operations in the region are ongoing, the ministry statement added.

Later in the day, the Interior Ministry said that the terrorist was identified as Ugur Bulut -- codenamed Siyar Cale -- who was on Turkey’s wanted terrorists list.

The terrorist had been sought with a bounty of 300,000 Turkish liras ($52,400) on his head, according the ministry.

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

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 Fahri Aksut