At least 7 Turkish soldiers killed in roadside bomb

USPA News - A bomb attack on Tuesday targeted a military vehicle and killed at least seven Turkish soldiers in the eastern region of the country, local authorities said. The attack occurred in the district of Atatürk in the eastern province of Tunceli at around 6 p.m. local time, when a roadside bomb detonated by a remote control device as the military vehicle drove by.

In a statement, the Office of Tunceli Governor confirmed that at least seven soldiers were killed and a number of other soldiers were also injured and transferred to the Tunceli State Hospital, Today`s Zaman reported. In addition, a civilian was severely injured. The explosion caused a fire which also burned a number of nearby vehicles. Authorities blamed the terrorist Kurdisan Workers` Party (PKK) for the attack. Last week, PKK rebels were also blamed for a rocket attack against another military convoy traveling between the eastern provinces of Bingöl and Mu? in which ten soldiers were killed and 60 others were injured. The PKK, which has been labeled as a terrorist organizations by the United States, Turkey and the European Union, was established in 1984 in its efforts to establish the eastern and southeastern regions of Turkey as an autonomous Kurdish state. Over 40,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed in violent clashes since the group took arms. The PKK maintains its military bases across the Iraqi border.