A SOLDIER WAS KILLED NEAR THE BORDER WITH IRAQ FRIDAY AFTER STEPPING ON A MINE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN PLACED BY AUTONOMY-SEEKING KURDISH REBELS, THE STATE-OWNED ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY REPORTED, ACCORDING TO AP. MEANWHILE, POLICE IN ISTANBUL HAVE DETAINED SEVEN SUSPECTED KURDISH MILITANTS BELIEVED TO HAVE PLANTED BOMBS THAT KILLED ONE PERSON AND INJURED DOZENS OF OTHERS, ISTANBUL'S POLICE CHIEF CELALETTIN CERRAH TOLD REPORTERS. THE TURKISH MILITARY HAS MASSED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL TROOPS IN THE REGION TO FIGHT KURDISH MILITANTS AND PREVENT REBEL INFILTRATION INTO TURKEY FROM BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE SOLDIER, A SERGEANT-MAJOR, WAS KILLED IN THE EXPLOSION NEAR THE TOWN OF CUKURCA, IN HAKKARI PROVINCE, ANATOLIA SAID. IN ISTANBUL, CERRAH SAID POLICE HAD DETAINED SEVEN SUSPECTED KURDISH MILITANTS _ INCLUDING ONE WOMAN _ WHOM POLICE BELIEVE CARRIED OUT TWO BOMB ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL IN MARCH AND APRIL. POLICE ALSO SEIZED 4.34 KILOGRAMS (9.5 POUNDS) OF PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES, HE SAID BUT DID NOT ELABORATE.
