Two die in 'PKK suicide attack'

Turkey says PKK militants have bases in northern Iraq

Two people have died in a suspected suicide attack by Kurdish separatist rebels on a Turkish paramilitary police post, Turkish officials say.

A hijacked fuel lorry exploded after soldiers began shooting as it headed towards the post in the eastern Tunceli province, they said.

One of those killed is believed to have been a Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) member - the other the driver.

Turkey blames a recent surge of attacks on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

It says some 4,000 militants have bases there and are able to mount cross-border attacks.

In the past Turkish forces have launched some cross-border raids to flush out PKK rebels.

Turkey has urged US and Iraqi forces to crack down on the PKK bases in northern Iraq.

But in April, the head of the country's powerful military said Ankara should launch a military operation in northern Iraq to target the guerrillas.

The PKK has been fighting for an ethnic homeland since 1984. Turkey blames the group for 30,000 deaths since then.