Update on PKK Violence (January 24-31, 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 000218 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (January 24-31, 2008) REF: ANKARA 153 and previous (U) Sensitive but unclassified - please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) This is another in a series of weekly reports on PKK violence in Turkey. Our primary source is the Turkish General Staff (TGS) website, which documents contacts and clashes with the PKK, as well as casualties incurred. ¶2. (U) During the January 24-31, 2008 reporting period, no GOT security official was killed or injured in clashes. The total number of security force casualties for the year through January 31, 2008 was zero killed and 17 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, no PKK terrorist was killed. Fifteen PKKers were captured. According to official TGS website figures, through the end of the fourth week of January, the number of PKK militants killed this year was zero, the number of those captured was 36, and the number of those who surrendered was 17. ¶4. (U) There were no incidents involving civilian casualties during the reporting period. Civilian casualties for the year through the end of the fourth week of January remain at seven killed, with another 49 wounded, in the Diyarbakir explosion. WILSON