"Terrorist organization is worried about well-intentioned efforts exerted to overcome problems on development of Turkey and our maturing democracy. However, those, who believe that they could achieve their goals by shedding blood and cause pain, will eventually understand that they are desperate," Gul said in the statement.
"I would like to underscore once again that such attacks will never be able to pull down our state and people and they will never weaken our will to solve problems. Our active fight against terrorism will continue with determination. In this period, I urge all political actors to act responsibly and denounce terrorism," Gul said.
Earlier on Thursday, the PKK members killed 13 soldiers in an ambush in a remote area in Silvan town of Diyarbakir province. Seven other soldiers were wounded and seven PKK militants were killed in the clash.
Following reports of casualties, Prime Minister Erdogan immediately called for a security meeting in Ankara with top security officials and the military chiefs. Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the banned PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. Some 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK for the past over two decades. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
