Subject: TURKEY FIGHTING (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN/DIYARBAKIR
Topic: voa
From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
DATE=4/23/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-177420
TITLE=TURKEY FIGHTING (S)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=DIYARBAKIR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: MORE CLASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN TURKEY'S MILITARY 
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, THE 
P-K-K.  THE LATEST OPERATIONS WERE REPORTED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN 
PROVINCE OF TUNCELI AND ACROSS THE BORDER IN NORTHERN IRAQ.  WE 
HAVE MORE ON THE MONTH-LONG OFFENSIVE FROM V-O-A CORRESPONDENT 
LAURIE KASSMAN IN DIYARBAKIR, IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY.

TEXT:  THE LEVEL OF FIGHTING HAS DROPPED OFF, BUT TURKEY'S ARMY 
IS CONTINUING TO POUND P-K-K POSITIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND IN 
SOUTHEAST TURKEY.

TURKISH NEWSPAPERS REPORT A NEW CLASH DURING THE WEEKEND IN 
NORTHERN IRAQ, SOME 15 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE TURKISH BORDER.

MILITARY OFFICIALS HAVE REFUSED TO COMMENT ON IT.

THE FIGHTING ALSO CONTINUES IN SEVERAL SEPARATE OPERATIONS IN 
TURKEY'S MOUNTAINOUS SOUTHEAST PROVINCE OF TUNCELI.  CLASHES WERE
REPORTED NEAR THE TOWN OF PULUMUR, WHERE P-K-K GUERRILLAS 
ATTACKED THE MILITARY BASE.  

TUNCELI'S GOVERNOR SAID 50 P-K-K FIGHTERS WERE KILLED IN A 
TWO-WEEK ASSAULT AGAINST GUERRILLA POSITIONS IN THE RUGGED 
MOUNTAINS SOME 170 KILOMETERS NORTH OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL.

TURKEY'S LATEST OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE P-K-K, WHICH EXTENDS ACROSS
THE BORDER INTO NORTHERN IRAQ, WAS LAUNCHED A MONTH AGO.  SOME 
20-THOUSAND TURKS STILL REMAIN IN NORTHERN IRAQ, BUT PRIME 
MINISTER TANSU CILLER SAYS THEY WILL PULL OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW 
WEEKS.

THE CROSS-BORDER OFFENSIVE BROUGHT SHARP CRITICISM FROM EUROPEAN 
ALLIES, WHO ARGUED IT VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL LAW.  (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/DW/BG

23-Apr-95 12:18 PM EDT (1618 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America