Source: PKK frees 20 Turkish hostages in Duhok

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) has released 20 Turkish workers who were detained during ongoing clashes with the Turkish military, a source told Rudaw on Tuesday.

The source said the 20 hostages released by the PKK were 11 customs agents who worked at a border gate into Iraq's Kurdistan region and nine construction workers.

Rudaw learned that the detainees were released in Niska village near Amedi town in the Kurdistan region's Duhok province in the presence of Mayor Hussein Chalky of Amedi. 

On Sunday, the PKK said it planned to release the 20 Turkish workers to civil society groups as a gesture of good intent to Ankara in a bid to restore a ceasefire agreement.

Reports suggest the United States is seeking an end to the fighting between Turkey and the PKK in conjunction with civil society efforts and the participation of government and Kurdish officials.

On July 24, Turkish warplanes began launching attacks on PKK camps in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.