Wanted PKK terrorist neutralized in SE Turkey

By Hasan Namli, Aziz Aslan and Ilker Gurel

DIYARBAKIR / EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - A wanted PKK terrorist was neutralized in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir province, the governor's office announced on Wednesday.

The terrorist was identified as Sehriban Yonten, codenamed Viyanpirsus, and was one of two terrorists neutralized in an operation earlier today, said a statement.

Yonten took part in many terrorist attacks against Turkey, it added.

She was wanted in the gray category of the Interior Ministry's list. The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" in their statements to imply that the terrorist in question either surrendered or was killed or captured.

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 and children.

Separately, Azimet Ceyhan, a far-left Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) terrorist, was taken into custody following his detention on Tuesday in the northwestern province of Edirne, said judicial sources on Wednesday.

He was in the "blue" category of wanted terrorists -- the second-highest category -- with a bounty of 1.5 million Turkish liras (roughly $250,000).

* Writing by Burak Bir