Security forces find 300 kilograms of explosive in Dağlıca

The explosives were found buried underground near the military post where eight soldiers were killed. Security units have not found such a large amount of explosives in this region in many years.

The PKK has intensified its violent acts in recent weeks and dozens of terrorists have been killed in armed skirmishes. The Dağlıca battalion, which oversees border security in the area to prevent PKK members from crossing into Turkey, has also been attacked several times in the past.

In one of the more deadly attacks, 12 soldiers were killed and eight captured by the PKK on Oct. 21, 2007. The incident sparked public anger and outrage as the captured soldiers were held by the organization in northern Iraq for a few weeks. Last week's attack came amid efforts by the government to try to reconcile with its Kurdish minority by granting more cultural rights.

The PKK, which is fighting for autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish Southeast, was founded on a Marxist ideology. Turkey has been conducting airstrikes on PKK camps in Iraq's northern mountains and inside Turkey since August of last year, following an increase in attacks on Turkish troops and civilians by the PKK.

The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The group is labeled a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, which has supplied Predator drones to assist Turkey.