In a statement posted on its website, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) said its members had started the fires in 17 provinces in reprisal for what it called the "fascist policies" of Turkey against Kurds.

The group threatened more forest fires and violence unless Ankara changed its ways.

Nearly 100 forest fires have broken out in Turkey since the weekend, destroying more than 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of land.

Hundreds of firefighters, backed by 10 helicopters, were on Wednesday trying to extinguish a fire near the bay of Gokova, a lush area under protection, that has even threatened the nearby holiday resort of Bodrum in the southwest of the country.

Local governor Temel Kocaklar told the Anatolia news agency that a suspect had been detained in connection with the fire, but added that he did not have links with any underground groups.

"According to our findings, the incident has nothing to do with terrorism," he said.

Authorities have yet to announce the cause of the other fires that coincided with a sweltering heatwave pushing temperatures as high as 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 Fahrenheit) in the region.

TAK has acknowledged responsibility for several deadly bomb attacks in urban centers across Turkey since last year and has also threatened to attack tourist targets.

Turkish officials say the group is a front which the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) uses for its attacks on civilian targets, while the PKK claims TAK is a splinter group over which it has no control.

More than 37,000 people have been killed since 1984 when the PKK, blacklisted by Turkey, the United States and the European Union as a terrorist group, took up arms for self-rule in the country's mainly Kurdish southeast.

Turkey accused PKK rebels of starting large forest fires in the west of the country in mid 1990s, at the height of the group's campaign.

Violence has escalated in the southeast since June 2004 when the PKK called off a unilateral ceasefire.