Nine Turkish security officials are dead after clashes with Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey.<br/> <br />At least eight others were wounded in the ongoing violence.<br/> <br />Fighting between the Turkish army and rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party has intensified in recent months.<br/> <br />Some analysts link the growing violence to the chaos in neighbouring Syria.<br/> <br />More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict between the PKK and Turkish forces since the militants launched their separatist insurgency 28 years ago.<br/> <br />Some Turkish officials have said the group is getting direct support from Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Kurdish groups in Syria.
