Fight against terror is a long term struggle, says President

ANKARA

President Abdullah Gül said the fight against terror is a long-term struggle and is being carried out in social, economic and cultural dimensions in addition to the security dimension, in the wake of Sept. 25’s deadly attack that killed six soldiers and one civilian in Tunceli.

“This struggle will continue with determination and sensitivity but without any tolerance despite the great pain. I praise our security forces for heroically and bravely performing their duties and exerting enormous effort to combat terror,” Gül said in his written message yesterday.

The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) killed six soldiers and one civilian in the southeastern Anatolian town of Tunceli when a powerful explosion went off as an armored military vehicle was passing through a main street in the town. Gül used powerful words of praise for the security forces to keep up their morale, especially after hundreds of senior military personnel have been arrested as part of ongoing cases.

A statement issued by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey’s fight against terror will not be affected by such heinous attacks. “We will never allow these attacks to hurt our societal peace and comfort. Our fight against terror will continue without moving away from our principles of democracy and rule of law.”