Bomb damages oil pipeline in Turkey

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey - A bomb has exploded next to an oil pipeline in southeast Turkey, causing some damage and spilling around 100 barrels of oil, industry officials said.

The blast occurred in the province of Batman where the state TPAO oil company has facilities and caused a fire which firemen rapidly extinguished.

It was not clear who planted the device and security forces have launched an investigation.

The separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has carried out similar attacks in the past as part of its violent campaign to create a homeland in southeast Turkey.

More than 30,000 people, mainly Kurds, have been killed since 1984 when the PKK launched its armed operations.

Fighting has increased since last year, when the rebels called off the unilateral five-year ceasefire they declared after the capture of their leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in 1999.

- REUTERS