Kurdish TAK militants claims responsibility for deadly Ankara attackMarch 17, 2016 - 12:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), a militant group active in Turkey, claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack that killed 37 people in the capital Ankara, according to a statement on its website on Thursday, March 17, Reuters reports. The group described the car bombing, which occurred on Sunday, as "vengeful action" for security operations in the mainly Kurdish southeast that have been underway since July, killing hundreds of civilians, security forces and militants. TAK previously claimed responsibility for a separate car bombing in Ankara last month that killed 29 people. TAK says it split from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Experts who follow Kurdish militants say the groups retain ties. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |