Turkey issues arrest warrant for leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party

Turkey's state-run news agency says authorities have issued arrest warrants for 48 Kurdish militants, including the leader of a US-backed Syrian Kurdishgroup.

Anadolu Agency says the warrants were issued on Tuesday in connection with a suicide bomb attack in February in Ankara.The attack which killed 29 people was claimed by a Kurdish militant group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers'Party, or PKK.

Anadolu said those wanted include two alleged PKK leaders currently in exile in Europe, three PKK commanders who are believed to be based in northern Iraq, and Saleh Muslim, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party, or PYD.

Ankara says the PYD and its armed wing are an extension ofthe PKK in Syria. All three are designated as terrororganisations.