Turkish soldiers killed in helicopter crash
Seventeen soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in southeast Turkey, Turkish officials have said.
The helicopter went down due to bad weather conditions in the Siirt province, according to local officials and state media.
Siirt Governor Ahmet Aydin also said the victims were members of Turkish special forces.
The Turkish military is active in the south-east, fighting Kurdish militants.
State-run television said the the crash occurred in heavy fog in a mountainous area, but authorities are still investigating exactly what happened.
Kurdish rebels are active in the area, but there is no indication they were involved in the incident.
Seventeen soldiers have died today as the result of a helicopter crash in Turkey's southeastern , Governor Ahmed Aydin has said. The provincial governor added that the fatalities belonged to Turkish special forces.

Investigations into the crash are ongoing, although Governor Ahmed Aydin has said the aircraft hit Herekol mountain as it travelled through heavy fog.

The soldiers were reportedly on their way to deployment against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).  The PKK seeks to increase rights for  and gain  in the southeast of Turkey, which is a predominantly Kurdish area. The  have been fighting with the PKK for decades.

Kurdish militants, though active in this part of Turkey, do not appear to have played any part in the crash.


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