Turkish soldiers have killed nine Kurdish rebels in a military operation in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast, authorities said Saturday. The rebels _ seven men and two women _ were killed late Friday in Tunceli province, some 800 kilometers (480 miles) east of the capital Ankara, local officials said. Automatic weapons, plastic explosives, grenades, and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher were seized in the operation, authorities said. The CNN-Turk news channel said some 10,000 Turkish soldiers, backed by helicopters, were taking part in a massive military operation against the autonomy-seeking rebels.
