This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7077438.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
PKK rebels 'free Turkish troops' PKK rebels release Turkish troops
(about 4 hours later)
Kurdish fighters are reported to have freed eight Turkish soldiers they captured two weeks ago in an ambush near the Iraqi border. Eight Turkish soldiers released by Kurdish fighters have been returned to their army units, the Turkish General Staff announced.
A spokesman for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said the men had been handed over to Iraqi Kurdish officials. They were released on Sunday morning by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after being captured in an ambush on 21 October near the border with Iraq.
It comes a day after the Iraqi government vowed to act against rebels attacking Turkish territory from Iraq. They were handed to Iraqi Kurdish officials and flown to Turkey.
The PKK intensified its military campaign last month, raising the threat of retaliation from Turkey. The release comes a day after the Iraqi government vowed to act against rebels attacking Turkish territory from Iraq.
Turkish threatTurkish threat
PKK spokesman Abdul Rahman Chaderchi told the AFP news agency the eight soldiers had been handed over at 0730 Iraqi time (0430 GMT).PKK spokesman Abdul Rahman Chaderchi told the AFP news agency the eight soldiers had been handed over at 0730 Iraqi time (0430 GMT).
The spokesman refused to say where the release had taken place, but added the soldiers were in good health and had been released unconditionally.The spokesman refused to say where the release had taken place, but added the soldiers were in good health and had been released unconditionally.
The men were captured two weeks ago in a PKK ambush in which at least 12 Turkish soldiers were killed.The men were captured two weeks ago in a PKK ambush in which at least 12 Turkish soldiers were killed.
The Ankara government threatened to launch cross-border operations if the Iraqi government did not take action against the PKK, but as yet has not followed up on its threat. The PKK intensified its military campaign last month, raising the threat of retaliation from Turkey.
The Ankara government warned it would launch cross-border operations if the Iraqi government did not take action against the PKK, but as yet has not followed up on its threat.
Iraq has vowed to defend its territory against Turkish attacks, but also promised action against PKK rebel leaders launching raids into Turkey.Iraq has vowed to defend its territory against Turkish attacks, but also promised action against PKK rebel leaders launching raids into Turkey.
More than 30,000 people in Turkey, military and civilians, have lost their lives in the conflict. More than 30,000 people in Turkey, military and civilians, have lost their lives in the conflict which started in 1984 in the south-eastern part of the country.