Five Turkish policeman killed in clashes: minister

ŞIRNAK - Doğan News Agency (DHA)

A police officer from the special forces is seen in this AA file photo.

The number of police officers killed in clashes in Turkey's southeast increased to five, Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin said today.

All the killed policemen were from the special forces, the minister said. 

Security forces launched an operation on mount Cudi in Şırnak province to apprehend militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who have increased their mobility as weather conditions improved in the region, reports said. 

Security forces were engaged in clashes with PKK militants, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had said during the weekly meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) earlier in the day.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.