Rights group: 162 civilians have died during security operations

ANKARA - The Associated Press

AFP photo

A Turkish human rights group says as many as 162 civilians have died since August, caught up in the increased fighting between security forces and outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in urban districts.

The Turkish Human Rights Foundation said late on Jan. 9 that 32 children, 29 women and 24 elderly people were among civilians killed in districts where authorities have imposed 24-hour curfews as they battle PKK militants.
      
The security forces have launched large-scale operations in areas where the militants have mounted barricades, dug trenches and set up explosives to keep authorities away. Turkish military said 307 militants have been killed in ongoing operations in southeastern Turkey since Dec. 15.