Turkey neutralizes 34 terrorists over past week

By Kemal Karadag

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish security forces have neutralized 34 terrorists in operations at home and abroad over the past week, according to the National Defense Ministry.

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

The ministry said in a written statement that the operations were conducted in the southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Tunceli, Hakkari, Sirnak and Bingol, where PKK/KCK terrorists usually hide, and northern Iraq, where terrorists use as a route to cross into Turkey.

During the operations, 885 small arms ammunition, three antipersonnel mine, 23 kilograms (50 pounds) of ammonium nitrate, and 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of C-4 explosive material were destroyed among others, the statement added.

Forty-two weapon pits, shelters and depots were also destroyed.

Meanwhile, during anti-drug operations, security forces seized over 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of drugs across the country.

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 women and children.