Only around 500 PKK terrorists left in Turkey: Minister

ANKARA

Turkey will eliminate around 500 terrorists left inside Turkey, said country’s interior minister on Wednesday.

Speaking at a gendarme command meeting, Suleyman Soylu said, ''Slightly over 500 terrorists were left in Turkey.''

"We will make all preparations and use all our capacity to eliminate these 500 terrorists in 2020," he added.

A total of 111 terrorists were forcibly recruited by PKK terror group while 233 others were convinced to surrender to Turkish security forces in 2019, said Turkish interior minister.

Soylu said almost 600 terrorists have been convinced by their parents to surrender to security forces in the last three years.

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.