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Kurd in 'suicide bomb attack'

The rebel died after detonating explosives she was carrying in the southern Turkish province of Adana.

Witnesses were quoted as saying that an accomplice of the suicide bomber was wounded in the attack and fled the scene.

Civilians 'targeted'

The explosion follows an attack on Sunday which killed one man and injured at least 20 others in an Istanbul park.

No group has said it was responsible, but the governor of Istanbul, Erol Cakir, accused the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) of retaliation, after the death sentence imposed by a Turkish court last week on the movement's leader, Abdullah Ocalan, for treason.

He said: "It appears that terror is targeting civilians. Everyone must be careful, but there is no need to panic."

Turks almost universally blame Mr Ocalan and the PKK for the deaths of 37,000 people during its 15-year insurgency in the south-east of Turkey.

The worst incident since his trial came to an end was an armed attack on a coffee house in the eastern city Elazig on Thursday, in which six people, including two of the attackers, were killed.

The authorities put the blame for that on the PKK. The rebel movement has made claims of its own, saying it has killed a number of soldiers in a series of incidents in the far south east of the country.

Security measures have been increased across the country since Mr Ocalan was captured in February.

Despite reported calls from Mr Ocalan for the rebels to avoid attacks that might provoke Turkey to carry out his execution, it is not clear how many are prepared to listen.

BBC Ankara Correspondent Chris Morris says there is obviously disagreement within the movement between moderates, who support their leader's call for peace, and hardliners, who believe violence is their only weapon.

The appeals process will take many months.

Relevant Stories

The PKK's mixed message (05 Jul 99 | Europe)
Ocalan sentence sparks revenge killings (02 Jul 99 | Europe)
Ocalan sentenced to death (29 Jun 99 | Europe)
The story of Ocalan's arrest (20 Feb 99 | From Our Own Correspondent)

Internet Links

Republic of Turkey
Ocalan Defence Team
Kurdish Information Network

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