Turkey says arrests stun extreme political groups

Turkish security forces have dealt severe blows to 15 political extremist organizations since the military takeover of September, military authorities here claim. A high-level statement published in Thursday's newspapers said 8 left-wing, 2 right- wing, and 5 separatist groups were rendered almost totally ineffective after large-scale arrests made among their leaders and militants.

In the weeks before the takeover, political violence carried out by extremist groups was c laiming a daily average of 20 lives.