Amid ongoing clashes, curfew continues in Diyarbakir

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A military curfew continues in the Kurdish province of Diyarbakir, in southeastern Turkey, since Wednesday’s bloody clashes between the Turkish army and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

A Rudaw reporter on the scene Saturday said several people were killed in the conflict.

"Clashes in the area of Sur in Diyarbakir are still ongoing, and normal life is on hold for many civilians," the reporter said.

The Turkish army declared a curfew in several neighborhoods of the Kurdish district of Sur earlier this week, which according to district officials would last “until further notice.”

The curfew follows the murder of a prominent Kurdish lawyer, Tahir Elci, in the city of Diyarbakir earlier this week.

Mehmduh Tura, a junior governor in Sur, explained that the reason for the curfew was to “ensure the security of life and property of our citizens," according to Dogan News Agency.

Police and special operations teams have been assembled in the area, with helicopters providing air support, Dogan reported on Wednesday.

Following the curfew, the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) expressed outrage, saying they were "worried about loss of lives."

“After the curfew declared in Sur, the district has been blockaded by security forces and clashes have begun. We want to note that we are worried about loss of lives following the curfew," the HDP said in a statement.

Since a tenuous ceasefire ended late July, Turkey has been in renewed conflict with the PKK.