Two soldiers martyred in PKK bomb attack in east Turkey

HAKKARI, Turkey

Two soldiers were martyred after the terrorist PKK members detonated an explosive in eastern Hakkari province, Turkish General Staff said Tuesday.

According to the statement issued by the General Staff, an explosive planted under a bridge in Semdinli district -- on Semdinli-Yuksekova highway -- was let off while an army vehicle was passing.

In addition, three soldiers were injured in the attack that happened at 16.45 (1345GMT) Turkish local time.

"Our injured fellow soldiers were immediately taken to hospital and received medical treatment," read the statement -- without identifying the soldiers -- adding that an air-backed operation was under way in the region.

In a separate incident, the PKK terrorists launched a bomb attack in southeastern province of Batman, killing a police officer and a truck driver.

The terrorists detonated an explosive while the police vehicle was heading on Batman-Kozluk highway, leaving three other policemen and five civilians injured.

The martyred policeman was not identified because his family had not been informed of his death at the time. The truck driver was named as 55-year-old Hamdullah Aydin.

The road was closed to traffic and security forces launched an operation to catch the perpetrators.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU.

According to Turkish government figures, the PKK has killed around 30 civilians since July, while more than 120 members of the security forces have been martyred.