Two Turkish soldiers killed in mine blast in eastern Turkey

IĞDIR – Doğan News Agency

Mine blast killed one soldier, leaving another wounded in the eastern province of Iğdır earlier today. DHA file photo

Two soldiers were killed in a mine blast in the eastern province of Iğdır earlier today. 
 
The blast occurred after a ceremony held by Iğdır Gov. Ahmet Pek to mark the opening of Mount Ararat to tourism in the Bayraktepe section of a plateau on the famous mountain.
 
Mustafa Altan and İbrahim Özkıdır, the two victims, were patrolling the area after the ceremony, which is held annually to welcome the spring. The two privates were taken by helicopter to hospital, where 20-year-old Altan succumbed to his injuries. Özkıdır was airlifted to a hospital in the nearby province of Erzurum, but he also succumbed to his injuries a few hours later despite all medical intervention. 
 
Pek confirmed the incident, noting that similar blasts have occurred in the past due to grazing activities in the area.
 
“This area was cleared of mines. But some are missed sometimes,” Pek said.

Turkish PM discusses peace process with ministers

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met May 1 with his deputy prime ministers Bülent Arınç, Bekir Bozdağ and Beşir Atalay, along with Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin, Minister of Interior Muammer Güler, Minister of Culture Ömer Çelik and Party Speaker Hüseyin Çelik in order to discuss developments about the “peace process.”

Outcomes of wise men meetings, and developments after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announcement to withdraw from Turkish territory were on the meeting’s agenda, sources said. Hüseyin Çelik recently traveled to northern Iraq and met with Massoud Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Administration.