Week-long curfew to be lifted in Cizre on Saturday: governor

The Turkish authorities on Saturday will lift a week-long curfew in the southeastern city of Cizre that has been in place as the military battles the terrorist PKK group, the regional governor's office said.

"The curfew that has been in place since September 4 will come to an end on Saturday September 12 at 7:00 am (0400 GMT)," said the statement from Şırnak region governor Ali İhsan Su.

Cizre, in the pre-dominantly Kurdish province of Şırnak, had been one of the few towns where the PKK has committed its deadliest attacks against the security forces and civilians.

Officials say that since the curfew started on Saturday of last week, some 60 of the PKK's barricades were destroyed in Cizre and 30 ditches were refilled. Also, 20 explosive devices were found and destroyed along with 800 kilograms of explosives. Many rifles and home-made explosives were also seized in Cizre operations.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and European Union, resumed lethal attacks in July in southeastern and eastern Turkey where a large Kurdish population lives following a lull stemming from the government-initiated reconciliation process to end the terrorism and improve the lives of the Kurdish community.