Turkish soldier martyred by accident in N.Iraq

By Yildiz Nevin Gundogmus

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish soldier was martyred in an accident in northern Iraq on Friday, according to the Turkish National Defense Ministry.

“In a continuing operation in northern Iraq, one of our soldiers was martyred by a gun accident," said a ministry statement.

"This unfortunate incident deeply saddened all of us. We offer our condolences to his family and to our nation.”

The Turkish Armed Forces regularly carries out cross-border operations in northern Iraq, a region where PKK terrorists have hideouts and bases from which to carry out attacks in Turkey.

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.