PKK rebels release Turkish troops

The PKK leadership has conducted its campaign from northern Iraq

Eight Turkish soldiers released by Kurdish fighters have been returned to their army units, the Turkish General Staff announced.

They were released on Sunday morning by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after being captured in an ambush on 21 October near the border with Iraq.

They were handed to Iraqi Kurdish officials and flown to Turkey.

The release comes a day after the Iraqi government vowed to act against rebels attacking Turkish territory from Iraq.

Turkish threat

PKK spokesman Abdul Rahman Chaderchi told the AFP news agency the eight soldiers had been handed over at 0730 Iraqi time (0430 GMT).

The spokesman refused to say where the release had taken place, but added the soldiers were in good health and had been released unconditionally.

The men were captured two weeks ago in a PKK ambush in which at least 12 Turkish soldiers were killed.

The PKK intensified its military campaign last month, raising the threat of retaliation from Turkey.

The Ankara government warned it would launch cross-border operations if the Iraqi government did not take action against the PKK, but as yet has not followed up on its threat.

Iraq has vowed to defend its territory against Turkish attacks, but also promised action against PKK rebel leaders launching raids into Turkey.

More than 30,000 people in Turkey, military and civilians, have lost their lives in the conflict which started in 1984 in the south-eastern part of the country.