Agency publishes pictures of Turk captives

ANKARA, Oct 23 (Reuters) A news agency which has close links to Kurdish rebels fighting Turkish troops published what it said today were pictures of eight Turkish soldiers taken hostage by the guerrillas.

''The pictures show their health condition is pretty good,'' said the Firat news agency, which is based in western Europe.

The PKK rebels said on Monday they had taken eight soldiers prisoner.

Turkey's military denied any of its men had been taken hostage, though it has confirmed that eight are still missing following Sunday's clashes in which 12 soldiers were killed.

REUTERS GL PM2137