Explosion hits police in Diyarbakır, kills four officersJanuary 17, 2017 - 13:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An explosion that targeted a police unit near Dicle University campus in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakır province killed four police officers while injuring two others, Daily Sabah reports. The blast on Monday, January 16 took place while a police vehicle was passing near a site at the campus where rubble from Diyarbakır's historic Sur district was being dumped. The wounded police officers were transferred to Dicle University Hospital for treatment. The attack coincided with the day the district's first female police chief started her duty. The district was heavily damaged in armed clashes between Turkish security forces and PKK terrorists in the period between December 2015 and March 2016. As part of their renewed fighting strategy in urban areas following the collapse of the reconciliation period in July 2015, PKK terrorists, aided by local municipalities run by the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), dug ditches and set up explosive traps in heavily populated urban areas. 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 | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |