Ankara: At least 24 Kurdish rebels and five Turkish soldiers were killed during clashes in an ongoing Turkish ground offensive into northern Iraq, the Turkish army has said.

A statement on the general staff's Internet site also said the army believed around another 20 militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were probably killed by artillery and helicopter fire.

It added that many rebels were also wounded in the continued fighting.

The exact number of militants killed in hide-outs and caves by artillery and helicopter fire as well as air strikes will be determined once Turkish forces reach the targeted area, the army said yesterday.

"It has been understood from preliminary information that the terrorists have suffered heavy losses under long-range weapons fire and air strikes," it added.

The Turkish army said earlier yesterday that it had launched a ground offensive into northern Iraq late Thursday to hunt PKK militants who have been waging a separatist campaign for Kurdish self-rule since 1984.

Turkey charges that an estimated 4,000 PKK militants use the Iraqi region as a springboard for attacks on Turkish territory.

Turkish leaders have described the offensive as limited in scope and gave assurances that troops would return once they achieve the operation s objectives.

Source : PTI