UPDATE - Turkish forces ‘neutralize’ 2 PKK terrorists

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Orhan Onur Gemici, Aykut Karadag, and Yusuf Soykan Bal

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces “neutralized” two PKK terrorists in a counterterrorism operation in the country’s southeast, Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a written statement on Saturday.

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

The air supported operation was launched in southeastern Diyarbakir province's Lice district.

Among two terrorists neutralized in Diyarbakir, one was Osman Gulen on the gray category of wanted list of Turkish Interior Ministry.

Gulen -- codenamed "Civan kod" -- was sought with a 300,000 Turkish lira ($51,000) bounty on his head, the Interior Ministry statement said.

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 some 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.

The list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz