Wanted PKK terrorist among 'neutralized' in Turkey

By Muhammed Nuri Erdogan

ANKARA (AA) – A PKK terrorist "neutralized" in Friday's domestic anti-terror operation was among those on Turkey's list of wanted terrorists, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

Ferhat Ates was inscribed on the gray category of the list which is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange, and gray.

Ates, codenamed Sefkan Mardin, was wanted with a bounty of 500,000 Turkish liras (roughly $73,000).

On Friday, Turkish security forces neutralized two PKK terrorists in an air-backed operation in the Ovacik district of the eastern Tunceli province.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either 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 EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.