Curfew lifted in Bağlar district of southeastern Diyarbakır province

Authorities lifted a curfew imposed to fight PKK terrorists in an area of Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakır province, on Monday.

The Bağlar district governor's office in Diyarbakır said the six-day-old curfew in the Kaynartepe neighborhood was being lifted from 6 a.m. (0400 GMT).

It had been declared after moves by PKK terrorists to set up barricades, dig ditches and plant explosives there, but the statement said security force operations had achieved their goal.

Violence has surged in southeast Turkey since a 2-1/2 year ceasefire with the PKK collapsed in July. The terrorists have focused their strikes on security forces in southeastern towns, triggering a series of curfews.

Security sources said security measures in Diyarbakır were raised to their highest level ahead of the Nevruz celebrations.

Security sources said hundreds of police were involved in operations to stop and search vehicles at various points around Diyarbakır overnight and carried out identity checks on guests at hotels and cafes in the area.