Turkey: 23 Rebels Killed in Offensive

ANKARA, Turkey – The Turkish military said 23 Kurdish rebels were killed in an offensive launched in response to a Sunday attack that killed at least 12 soldiers.

The soldiers died when Kurdish rebels ambushed a military unit near Turkey’s border with Iraq earlier in the day. The clash increased pressure on the Turkish government to stage attacks against guerrilla camps in Iraq.

The soldiers were killed when rebels blew up a bridge as a 12-vehicle military convoy was crossing it, CNN-Turk television said.