Turkish police attacked by Kurd protesters

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Six Turkish police officers were injured during an illegal demonstration in support of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, authorities said.

Protesters attacked police Tuesday with a percussion bomb and rifles in a southeastern province, Today's Zaman reported.

Four officers were injured when protesters opened fire with AK-47 assault rifles, and two more were wounded when the percussion bomb placed next to a dumpster exploded.

Protesters also threw stones, Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at police, who responded with tear gas.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, has killed more than 30 Turkish soldiers in intensified attacks this month in its campaign for an autonomous Kurdish state in eastern and southeastern parts of Turkey.

A large majority of the international community, including the United States and the European Union, has declared the PKK a terrorist organization.

The attack followed airstrikes into northern Iraq in the past week that have killed at least 100 Kurdish separatists and injured more than 80 others, Turkey's military said.

The strikes hit 132 locations around Qandil, Hakurk, Avasin-Basyan, Zap and Metina regions while heavy artillery bombed 349 targets, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

A statement posted on the military headquarters' Web site said the strikes would continue.

"North of Iraq and inside the country will be closely monitored for any separatists terror actions as air and land operations will continue," the statement said.