Turkish forces chase with rebels in southeast

ANKARA – Government troops trapped a group of about 100 separatist Kurdish rebels in a rugged region close to Turkey’s border with Iraq, after blocking all escape routes across the frontier, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported yesterday.

Farther north, a soldier was killed after stepping on a land mine believed to have been planted by the rebels in Tunceli province, where the military was waging a separate operation against guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, the local governor’s office said. The official Anatolia news agency said troops – which have been shelling mountain passages used by the rebels to escape to bases in Iraq – trapped the group of rebels in the Ikiyaka mountains in Hakkari province that borders Iraq, forcing them to hide in caves.The military was pressing on with land and air operations in the area, the agency said.Troops, backed by attack helicopters, were also pursuing rebels in Sirnak province, which also borders Iraq, Anatolia reported.The reports could not immediately be independently verified.On Sunday, attack helicopters buzzed over a hilly region in Tunceli looking for PKK rebels after troops reportedly killed 15 separatist guerrillas in a morning operation.Tunceli is far removed from the border with Iraq where most recent clashes have broken out.PKK fighters have killed at least 43 people in the past month.Those casualties included some 30 Turkish soldiers in two ambushes that were the boldest attacks in years – increasing domestic pressure on Turkey’s prime minister to act.Oil prices rose above US$93 a barrel to a new trading high in Asia on Monday partially on the growing political tensions in the Middle East – including concerns that Turkey may send troops south across the border – and worries about the supply outlook ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter.Nampa-APThe official Anatolia news agency said troops – which have been shelling mountain passages used by the rebels to escape to bases in Iraq – trapped the group of rebels in the Ikiyaka mountains in Hakkari province that borders Iraq, forcing them to hide in caves.The military was pressing on with land and air operations in the area, the agency said.Troops, backed by attack helicopters, were also pursuing rebels in Sirnak province, which also borders Iraq, Anatolia reported.The reports could not immediately be independently verified.On Sunday, attack helicopters buzzed over a hilly region in Tunceli looking for PKK rebels after troops reportedly killed 15 separatist guerrillas in a morning operation.Tunceli is far removed from the border with Iraq where most recent clashes have broken out.PKK fighters have killed at least 43 people in the past month.Those casualties included some 30 Turkish soldiers in two ambushes that were the boldest attacks in years – increasing domestic pressure on Turkey’s prime minister to act.Oil prices rose above US$93 a barrel to a new trading high in Asia on Monday partially on the growing political tensions in the Middle East – including concerns that Turkey may send troops south across the border – and worries about the supply outlook ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter.Nampa-AP