US envoy calls on PKK to cease 'senseless, brutal attacks'

ANKARA

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The United States Ambassador to Turkey John Bass has extended his condolences to the relatives of the security forces who were killed in an outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attack in the Sur district of southeastern Diyarbakır province on Jan. 27, while also urging for dialogue to end the violence.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the security forces killed in yesterday’s PKK attack in Sur. This incident is just the latest example of the terrible toll the fighting in the southeast has taken on security forces and civilians,” a statement issued on the embassy’s official Twitter account read.

Bass also reiterated his call to the PKK to cease its “senseless” and “brutal” attacks and urged everyone to direct their energy towards dialogue, not violence, to resolve the issue.

“We call again on the PKK to cease their senseless, brutal attacks and recall that it was the PKK’s resumption of violence which is the root cause of the trauma affecting so many citizens of Turkey. The answers to the grievances that underpin the resumption of violence in Turkey will only be found through dialogue and discussion in political and legitimate institutions, not through violence. We urge everyone interested in peace to direct their energies in that direction,” he said.

Three soldiers and one police officer were killed in the attack and another three soldiers and one police officer were wounded. However, the second wounded police officer succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 28, increasing the death toll to five.