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Turkish troops in rebel clashes Turkish troops in rebel clashes
(about 1 hour later)
Five soldiers and five rebels have been killed in clashes involving Kurdish separatists in the south-east close to the Iraqi border, Turkey's army says. Five Turkish soldiers and five Kurdish rebels have been killed in clashes in the south-east close to the Iraqi border, the Turkish army says.
Another Turkish soldier died and 15 were wounded when a helicopter carrying reinforcements crashed because of a technical failure, a statement said. It says another Turkish soldier died and 15 were wounded when a helicopter carrying reinforcements crashed because of a technical failure.
It said the rebels died in two other clashes. There is no confirmation. But Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels claimed that they had shot down the helicopter, Reuters reports.
The Turkish army says the rebels were killed in two separate clashes.
PKK guerrillas have not confirmed the deaths.
Turkey has staged cross-border raids into northern Iraq recently in pursuit of the Kurdish rebels.Turkey has staged cross-border raids into northern Iraq recently in pursuit of the Kurdish rebels.
The militants belong to the Kurdistan Workers' Party which has been fighting for autonomy in the south-east for over two decades. The PKK has been fighting for autonomy in the south-east for over two decades.
More than 30,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far.More than 30,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far.
Terrorist blacklistTerrorist blacklist
The latest clashes broke out on Wednesday when PKK rebels opened fire on a group of soldiers in Hakkari province, the Turkish military said in a statement.The latest clashes broke out on Wednesday when PKK rebels opened fire on a group of soldiers in Hakkari province, the Turkish military said in a statement.
The PKK rebels died in two separate operations in Semdinli and Sirnak near the Iraqi border, according to the statement.The PKK rebels died in two separate operations in Semdinli and Sirnak near the Iraqi border, according to the statement.
The PKK has been blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.The PKK has been blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
The Turkish government accuses Iraq of failing to stop the guerrillas from using northern Iran as a safe haven. Ankara accuses Iraq of failing to stop the guerrillas from using northern Iran as a safe haven.
The army has launched almost daily raids in the south-east and across the border into Iraq in retaliation for a series of deadly attacks by PKK rebels.The army has launched almost daily raids in the south-east and across the border into Iraq in retaliation for a series of deadly attacks by PKK rebels.
Earlier this month militants ambushed and killed 17 Turkish soldiers at a border outpost, in the worst attack on the military in more than a year.Earlier this month militants ambushed and killed 17 Turkish soldiers at a border outpost, in the worst attack on the military in more than a year.