Turkish operation 'kills 22 PKK'

Sirnak province regularly sees Turkey-PKK clashes

Turkish troops have killed 22 Kurdish guerrillas over the last five days in an operation in south-east Turkey, the Turkish military says.

There has been no confirmation from the PKK guerrilla group.

On Monday the military said two Turkish troops and three PKK fighters were killed in clashes in the same Sirnak province, near the Iraqi border.

Turkey has launched repeated air and land attacks in the region, targeting PKK rebels based in northern Iraq.

The PKK has been fighting for Kurdish self-rule since 1984.

The statement on the Turkish military's website said 22 rebels were killed when aircraft and artillery units shelled their positions in an operation starting last Friday.

On Monday a PKK spokeswoman, Sozdar Avesta, demanded a ceasefire in the Mount Ararat area, further north, where the PKK is holding three German tourists hostage. She also demanded a change in Germany's Kurdish policy.

Ms Avesta, speaking in the Qandil mountains in northern Iraq, said an international organisation such as the Red Cross should facilitate the hostages' release.

More than 30,000 people have died since the PKK began fighting for self-rule. Turkey, the EU and US consider it to be a terrorist organisation.