Turkish lawyer, police officer killed in PKK attack

A senior lawyer and a police officer have died after gunfire erupted in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakir on Saturday.

Security sources have pinned the attack on the terrorist organization PKK.

President of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, Tahir Elci, and a police officer were killed in the incident which happened in the province’s central Sur district.

Two other police officers were injured.

According to Turkish security sources, Elci had been making a statement to the media about the historic Dort Ayakli Minare mosque, damaged by the PKK in October.

PKK terrorists and Turkish security forces traded fire, as people fled the scene.

Diyarbakir Governor's office issued a statement saying "security forces came under attack during a press conference by the Diyarbakir Bar Association at around 11:00 am [0900GMT]," adding that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

The governorship also declared a curfew in Sur district which is applicable to six neighborhoods and one street as of 1 p.m. [1100GMT].

The curfew will be in place until further notice, it said.

Interior Minister Efkan Ala said four chief inspectors were commissioned to investigate the attack, which he said "targeted national unity and integrity".

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the target was not just Elci, but Turkey itself, and vowed to find the perpetrators of what he described as an "assassination".

"This incident will definitely be clarified. We do not let crimes go unsolved," he said, warning against speculation such as claims there would be a cover-up or suggestions some "mysterious elements [were] involved".

"However, if some people try to create chaos over this incident, we will not be indifferent," he added.