Ankara - Turkish warplanes bombed suspected Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) positions in northern Iraq late Thursday, the Dogan news agency reported on Friday.

Sixteen jets participated in air raids that began around 10 p. m. (1900 GMT) against targets around the villages of Kurtek, Galibedran, Seyitharun and Girdasala near the Iraqi border with Iran.

No civilian casualties were reported.

The Turkish Air Force has conducted a number of airstrikes against PKK targets in northern Iraq since a week-long cross-border incursion into northern Iraq was launched in February.

Ankara blames the separatist group for the deaths of more than 32,000 people since the early 1980s when the PKK began its fight for independence or autonomy for the mainly Kurdish-populated south-east of Turkey.

The PKK is considered by the United States and the European Union to be a terrorist group. (dpa)