Mine kills two soldiers in southeastern Turkey

TUNCELI, Turkey, Apr 26 (Reuters) A mine laid by Kurdish separatists killed two Turkish soldiers during troop operations today against rebels in southeastern Turkey, security forces said.

Security officials said a soldier was also killed in a mine blast two days ago and another soldier was killed during clashes with the rebels, who suffered no casualties.

As part of its annual spring offensive against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels, Turkish military forces are carrying out operations backed by helicopter gunships.

Two Turkish soldiers were also wounded in the past four days.

Violence between the Turkish army and PKK began in 1984, when the separatist group took arms to fight for an independent Kurdish homeland. More than 30,000 people have been killed.

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