Wanted PKK terrorist among neutralized in Turkey

By Sertac Bulur

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish Gendarmerie Command “neutralized” three terrorists, including one wanted by security forces, in the southeastern Siirt province, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

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

Among the terrorists was Ekrem Aksoy, codenamed Dijvar Sason, a PKK terrorist who is on the grey category of the Interior Ministry’s wanted terrorists list, the ministry said.

Aksoy had a 300,000 Turkish liras ($51,500) prize on his head, it added.

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

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 nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev