UPDATE - Wanted terrorists among 'neutralized' in Turkey

UPDATES WITH NEW STATEMENT FROM INTERIOR MINISTRY

By Cankut Tasdan and Sefa Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Three terrorists neutralized last month in southern Turkey were on the country's wanted list, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Cihan Erbas, codenamed Huseyin, Serhat Aykul, codenamed Ciger-Amed, and Sefik Korman, codenamed Ali Norsin were in the grey category of the Interior Ministry's wanted terrorists list and sought with a bounty up to 500,000 Turkish liras ($65,824) on their heads.

The terrorists were neutralized in Hatay on Aug. 22 as part of the Operation Yildirim-5 around Mt. Amanos, the ministry said.

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

Separately, another wanted terrorist, also in the grey category of the Interior Ministry's wanted terrorists list, was neutralized in eastern Turkey, according to the ministry.

Halis Erdogan, codenamed Roni, was neutralized along with weapons by local gendarmerie forces in Igdir province as part of anti-terror operation Yildirim-3, it said.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or 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. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.