Kurdish militants kill two Turkish soldiers, wound six in bomb attack

The army has since last week pursued a relentless campaign against PKK rebels in the two southeastern towns of Cizre and Silopi, in a bid to root out militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Heavy clashes were also reported in Silopi in Sirnak, where Turkish officials said PKK militants reportedly opened fire on civilians who tried to escape from the city.

Kurdish groups say many innocent residents have been killed, with at least 23 in the town of Cizre alone.

Diyarbakir Mayor Gultan Kisanak criticised the tactics.

“The Turkish government should rein in its security forces, immediately stop the abusive and disproportionate use of force and investigate the deaths and injuries caused by its operations”, Human Rights Watch senior Turkey researcher Emma Sinclair-Webb said.

The police fired tear gas cannisters and water cannon, sparking chaotic scenes as protesters sought to flee the streets amid clouds of smoke.

Since then, there has been what’s being described as an unprecedented military operation in heavily populated towns and cities in the south east.

Traditionally foccused on the countryside, the PKK has shifted to southeastern towns, setting up barricades and digging trenches to keep security forces away.

A full investigation is needed to determine in each case whether members of the security forces unlawfully killed civilians or whether civilians were killed in crossfire, by armed fighters or by flying shrapnel during armed clashes.

Demirtas accused the government and military of targeting citizens who were presented as “terrorists”.

He has left for a visit to Moscow, a trip slammed by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Turkey and Russia have been at odds since Ankara downed a Russian jet last month saying it violated its airspace. Lawmakers can not be prosecuted unless stripped of immunity by parliament.

The escalating violence has dashed hopes for the resumption of peace talks between the state and the PKK, which have fought a three-decade conflict that has killed more than 30,000. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has continually vowed to wipe out the PKK, a group that the Turkish government and its allies, including the United States and the European Union, consider a terrorist organization. In recent years the PKK has been pressing for greater autonomy and rights for the Kurds, Turkey’s largest minority.