2 terrorists neutralized in eastern Turkey

Turkish security forces neutralized two terrorists in the eastern Tunceli province as part of efforts to ensure domestic security, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in statements to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The terrorists were neutralized in a joint operation of the provincial Gendarmerie Command and the National Intelligence Operation (MIT) in Pülümür district.

The operations in the region are ongoing, the ministry statement added.

The Interior Ministry later announced that among the terrorists was Ayten Ene -- codenamed Çiçek Kurtalan -- who was on the red category -- naming most wanted terrorists -- of its list.

Mehdi Kaplan, the other terrorist -- codenamed Dilgeş -- neutralized, was inscribed on the gray category of the list.

The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

Though the statement did not mention a specific terrorist group, Turkey has long been conducting operations against the PKK in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children and infants.