Three Turkish soldiers, three village guards killed in clash with PKK

The six were participating in a security operation near the town of Semdinli against the outlawed PKK.

Two other soldiers were also wounded in the fighting, the governor's statement said.

Security operations are under way in the region.

Army sources told Reuters three helicopters were carrying new troops to the area near the Iraqi border, where fighting is continuing with outlawed PKK separatists, and two army helicopters were bombing the mountainous area.

Two or three thousand Turkish troops were involved in the fighting, the sources said.

Turkey, like the European Union and Washington, considers the group a terrorist organisation.