53 Die as Kurds Raid Turk Post
HAKKARI, Turkey — Kurdish rebels launched a major attack on a Turkish border post near Iran on Sunday, sparking 10 hours of fighting that left at least 43 guerrillas and 10 soldiers dead, the regional governor’s office said.
The fighting was the biggest clash between soldiers and guerrillas in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir since the Kurdish rebels began fighting in 1984 for self-rule in the region.
The governor’s office said the guerrillas’ death toll was believed to be higher because the rebels were seen carrying some bodies back to their hide-outs in Iran. It said 12 Turkish soldiers were wounded in the clash.
The rebels have dramatically intensified their attacks in recent weeks. One clash in the city of Sirnak lasted for 48 hours and left 18 people dead.
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