Turkish military aircraft have killed more than 30 civilians after mistaking them for Kurdish rebels in the southeastern district of Uludere, Şırnak near the border with Iraq.

Drones and thermal cameras identified a group of people heading for the border last night. F-16 planes took off and strike the group with missiles. As dawn broke, it turned out that the group was not PKK members but villagers who were trying to smuggle cheap gasoline over the border. Most of them are reported to be living in the village of Ortasu.

"The incident took place within Turkish borders, in a place nearby the village", Uludere mayor Fehmi Yaman told bianet online. He had reported to the region immediately last night.

"These villagers were buying materials from Iraq and bringing them back to Turkey. When they were not allowed to enter the village, they returned back to Iraq. At this point the war planes attacked."

"There's one survivor. There're around 36-37 corpses in the village. But some of the bodies are in parts and some body parts are missing. Most corpses are heavily burned. Heavy machinery is needed to collect some bodies that are buried under rocks and debris."

According to the newspaper Milliyet, governor of Şırnak said there are more than 20 dead in the incident. A local newspaper reported that there are three wounded at Şırnak State Hospital but no one is allowed to visit.

Photo: bianet