Seven dead in clash between troops and leftists in Turkey

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Jan 15 (AFP) - Two soldiers and five far left militants, including two women, have been killed in a clash in eastern Turkey, officials said on Saturday.
The fighting occurred in a rural area in the province of Tunceli, the office of the local governor said, adding that the security operation there was continuing.
Three soldiers were injured, and two of the dead activists were women, officials said.
The statement did not say to which group the militants belonged, but local security officials said they believed that they were from the outlawed Maoist Communist Party (MKP).
Members of far-left underground organizations have long been active in the mountainous region, along with Kurdish rebels.
Last month, two MKP militants were killed in the same province in a clash with security forces.

01/15/2005 09:59 GMT - AFP