Turkey seizes huge cache of PKK weapons in N. Iraq

ANKARA

The Turkish military seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition during its anti-terror operation in northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The ministry said in a statement that five AK-47s, one M-16 rifle, 14 hand grenades, nine improvised explosives, two RPG-7 rocket launchers and mortars, and a huge cache of ammunition were seized during search and sweep activities by commandos as part of the Operation Claw-Tiger.

The operation successfully continues, it added.

Turkey's operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle were launched last month to ensure the safety of the Turkish people and borders by neutralizing the threat of the PKK and other terrorist groups in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar