Turkish lieutenant, soldier die in landmine blast

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Oct 14 (Reuters) A Turkish lieutenant and a soldier died after stepping on a landmine during an operation today in the country's restive southeast, state-run news agency Anatolian said.

The deaths come on the back of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party's (PKK) unilateral ceasefire, which came into effect on October. Attacks on security forces have since fallen sharply.

It was not immediately clear whether the landmine in the city Hakkari, which also injured one soldier, was planted prior to the ceasefire.

Turkey's government and military have dismissed the PKK ceasefire as a publicity stunt.

Ankara blames the PKK for the deaths of more than 30,000 people since the Kurdish group launched its armed campaign for an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey more than two decades ago.

Like Turkey, the United States and the European Union have blacklisted the PKK as a terrorist organisation.

REUTERS BDP VV1554