7 terrorists neutralized in eastern Turkey

ANKARA

Turkey continued its anti-terror operation in the eastern Kars province, the country's interior minister said on Thursday.

The provincial gendarmerie forces have neutralized seven PKK terrorists in an operation carried out in Kagizman district of Kars in two days, Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter.

PKK terror organization's so-called "Cemce group" was destroyed during the operation, Soylu added.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that four of the terrorists were on Turkey's wanted list, with a bounty of up to 500,000 Turkish liras (roughly $84,000).

Four terrorists were identified as Mehmet Yalcin (codenamed Munzur Gimgim), Adnan Yasar (codenamed Erdal), Ercan Tutar (codenamed Harun Islam), and Hamit Ecer (codenamed Sipan Mardin).

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar and Burak Dag