Wanted PKK terrorist neutralized in SE Turkey

By Cankut Tasdan

ANKARA (AA) - A wanted PKK terrorist code-named Zinar Akro was neutralized in southeastern Diyarbakir province, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

In a written statement, the ministry said the terrorist was identified as Yusuf Kayran and was one of the five neutralized terrorists in the operation on Monday.

The terrorist was in the gray category of the Interior Ministry's wanted list, the statement said.

Kayran was sought with a 300,000 Turkish lira ($51,000) bounty on his head, the Interior Ministry statement said.

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 "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 U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is the group's Syrian branch.

* Writing by Burak Bir