Update on PKK Violence (February 16-23, 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 000348 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV TU IZ SUBJECT: Update on PKK Violence (February 16-23, 2008) REF: ANKARA 302 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 February 16-23, 2008 reporting period, two security officials were killed in clashes after the Turkish land forces entered northern Iraq on February 21. Another security force member was killed and one was injured in an IED explosion in Bingol Province on February 23. The total number of security force casualties for the year through February 23, 2008 was three killed and 18 injured. ¶3. (U) During the same period, 79 PKK terrorists were reported killed in the cross border operation (CBO). One PKKer was captured and three PKKers surrendered inside Turkey. According to official TGS website figures, through the third week of February, the number of PKK militants killed this year was 89, the number of those captured was 41, and the number of those who surrendered was 23. ¶4. (U) There were no incidents involving civilian casualties during the reporting period. Civilian casualties for the year through the end of the third week of February remain at seven killed, with another 49 wounded, in the January 3 Diyarbakir explosion. WILSON