Death toll rises to five in landmine blast in SE Turkey

Source: Xinhua | 05-10-2009 08:55

ANKARA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Death toll rose to 5 people in a landmine explosion in southeastern Turkey on Saturday, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

The landmine exploded near Cevizduzu village of Sirnak province when a car hit the mine, killing the 5 people, including two village guards, according to the report.

Earlier report said that 3 people were killed in the landmine explosion, according to Anatolia.

Militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) have been planting landmine against the Turkish security forces in eastern and southeastern Turkey.

The PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. Some 40,000 people have been killed in the over-two-decade conflict.

The Turkish forces have taken tougher actions against the PKK after the country's legislature extended the government's mandate to launch cross-border operations against the rebels in northern Iraq.

Editor:Qin Yongjing