Curfew lifted in eastern Turkish district

MUŞ – Doğan News Agency

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A curfew declared early Aug. 16 in the eastern province of Muş’s Varto district was lifted around 24 hours later, the governor’s office has announced.

“A curfew was lifted at 5 a.m. on Aug. 17 since public security and an environment of trust were re-established with mines, traps and bombs in Varto defused and the streets cleaned out,” the written statement issued by Muş Gov. Vedat Büyükersoy’s office read.

The Muş Governor’s Office had declared a curfew at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 16 until further notice over clashes with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants who had assumed control of much of the district, digging trenches and placing explosives at a number of places around the city during continued battles with the state.

During the curfew hours, the sounds of clashes with the PKK militants were heard in the district.

Early on Aug. 16, PKK militants also raided a worksite in the district and demolished a bridge at an entrance to the district with bulldozers they had seized.

The violence flared following the release of images of a PKK militant, Kevser Eltürk (Ekin Wan), who had been left naked in the street after allegedly being killed by the security forces. The governor’s office has opened up an investigation into the image.