Kurdish rebels attack soldiers guarding Turkish opposition party headAugust 25, 2016 - 17:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Kurdish rebels opened fire Thursday, August 25 at security forces protecting a convoy of vehicles carrying Turkey's main opposition party leader in the northeast, wounding three soldiers, Turkey's interior minister said, according to the Associated Press. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party, told the state-run Anadolu Agency that he was safe and had been taken to a government building in Artvin province. Private NTV showed tense scenes at the site of the attack, with plainclothes security officers pointing their guns toward the hills above a road where Kilicdaroglu's motorcade was traveling and people hiding behind cars. Interior Minister Efkan Ala blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, for Thursday's attack. He said the assailants targeted a paramilitary police vehicle that was protecting Kilicdaroglu's motorcade. Its driver was seriously hurt, while two other soldiers were slightly wounded. Ala said the security forces immediately began an operation against the rebels in the region. "It is definitely the PKK and an operation has started against them," Ala said, according to AP. Violence between the PKK and Turkish security forces resumed last year after the collapse of a peace process. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills |