One soldier killed in mine blast in southeast Turkey

One soldier of the Turkish security forces was killed and another injured in a land mine blast in southeastern Turkey on Thursday, the private Cihan news agency reported. The blast took place while a military convoy passed near Ortaklar village in Semdinli town of Hakkari province, according to the report. The private Dogan news agency said the mines were probably planted by the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in eastern and southeastern Turkey. The PKK has recently intensified its attacks on Turkish troops, police and civilians. Turkish officials vowed to reciprocate with absolute determination. Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK during the past over two decades.