Clashes between Turkish troops and PKK rebels have left nine rebels and three soldiers dead in the country's southeast, the military announced on Tuesday.

The clashes took place on Monday in the southeastern province of Sirnak, bordering Iraq, the military said in a statement.

Five soldiers were also wounded in the clashes, it said.

Earlier, the private Dogan news agency reported that 10 soldiers were wounded.

The fighting followed an attack by Turkish artillery units and warplanes on PKK rebel positions in northern Iraq late last week that Turkey's military said killed at least 15 rebels.

Turkey is fighting PKK, which uses bases in the north of neighboring Iraq to launch attacks against targets inside Turkey.