21 civilians killed in Kurdish town in southeast Turkey: HDP
Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish party has announced the death of at least 21 civilians during clashes between Turkish soldiers and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the Kurdish-populated town of Cizre.
The announcement by People's Democratic Party (HDP) on Thursday came after Turkey said as many as 32 PKK militants and only one civilian had been killed in clashes with Turkish forces in the restive town in southeastern Shirnak Province near the border with Iraq and Syria.
A curfew was imposed on Cizre last Friday as Turkey pushes ahead with its military operations against the PKK militants.
HDP sources said snipers affiliated with Turkish security forces had targeted civilians in Cizre.
Turkish police forces have prevented HDP leader Salaheddin Demirtash and a number of other pro-Kurdish politicians, including two cabinet members, as well as their supporters from marching into Cizra to protest the dire conditions in the town.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Selami Altinok, however, said in a press conference that the pro-Kurdish politicians were blocked from going to Cizre for their own safety, adding that their presence “may cause provocative events, so it’s out of the question for them to go there; we will not allow that.”
HDP lawmakers have accused President Tayyip Erdogan and his AK Party of using deadly military actions in Kurdish-populated areas in a bid to incite nationalist sentiment ahead of upcoming elections.
Hamas denies reports about political bureau relocation to Turkey as false
BRICS offers Turkey partner status, says Turkish minister
Erdogan claims Turkey has 'severed all ties' with Israel
Iran to launch ‘new, advanced’ centrifuges in response to IAEA resolution: AEOI
Yemen fires hypersonic missile at Israeli airbase
VIDEO | New Delhi chokes under toxic smog as air quality remains at hazardous levels
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | ICC's arrest warrant for Netanyahu to worry Western politicians: Former British diplomat
Iranians protest against Israel after Netanyahu ICC warrant
Germany undecided on complying with ICC arrest warrants for Israeli war criminals
VIDEO | Former FBI agent criticizes US Congress for 'outright corruption'
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
