Turkish forces kill 15 female Kurdish militants

Turkish security forces killed 15 female Kurdish militants in an operation in the southeast province of Bitlis, close to the border with Iraq, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.      While the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) does recruit women, an encounter with such a large group of female fighters is unusual.      Paramilitary troops backed by police and village militia were involved in Friday's operation in a densely forested area. One village guard was killed and three others wounded, the ministry said.      The latest casualties brought the number of Kurdish rebels killed in the past two days to 25 in operations in Bitlis, Cudi and Siirt, according to security officials. Six police officers were killed and 10 security officials were wounded.      More than 40,000 militants, soldiers and civilians have been killed in the fighting since the PKK took up arms in 1984.      Talks between Turkey and the PKK to end the conflict broke down and last year the fighting cranked up again. Scores more militants, soldiers and civilians have been killed since. Hundreds have also been arrested on charges of secretly supporting the PKK.       Set up to fight for Kurdish home rule in southeast Turkey, the PKK is commanded from bases in the remote mountains of northern Iraq, but was once backed by Syria.      Turkey is watching closely for any evidence that Syria had renewed backing for the PKK. Earlier this week a PKK field commander issued a statement threatening to turn Kurdish areas into a war zone if Turkish troops entered Syria.       Some 700 people were arrested, and one policeman and a Kurdish activist were killed during Kurdish New Year celebrations that turned into riots this week as police tried to stop a show of popular strength by Kurds across the country.