Four Turkish soldiers killed in Iraq: Ministry

FourTurkishsoldiershave beenkilledin two separate incidents in northernIraqwhere they are battling Kurdish militants, the defenceministrysaid Monday.

Threesoldiersdied and two were injured when an improvised explosive device went off Sunday in an area whereTurkishforces have been conducting an operation against fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), theministrysaid.

Another soldier waskilledand one wounded in a shootout with Kurdish fighters near aTurkishmilitary base, it said.

Turkishforces routinely conduct operations against PKK bases in rugged mountains in northernIraq.

The group is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies.

Turkishtroops have maintained a network of bases inIraqsince the mid-1990s under security agreements struck with Saddam Hussein's regime.

The PKK has waged a rebellion in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey since 1984 that has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The PKK's pan-Kurdish agenda for a homeland straddling parts of Syria, Turkey,Iraqand Iranhas often put it at odds withIraq's autonomous Kurdish government, which has sought to maintain good relations with Ankara.