Updated

Turkey's military says Kurdish rebels have fired on troops in eastern Turkey, wounding four soldiers and touching off clashes between the military and the rebels.

The military said the attack occurred Saturday near the village of Yukari Tutek, in Agri province, where troops were dispatched to police a spring festival which was being organized by rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

The military said reinforcement troops, reconnaissance planes and helicopter gunships were sent to the area where clashes were continuing.

The fighting comes despite a peace process between Turkey and the autonomy-seeking rebels aimed at ending a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people since 1984.

Last month, the rebel leader called on PKK militants to abandon arms for good and seek a democratic solution.