Huseyin Aygun, of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in the southeastern city of Tunceli, was abducted Sunday after rebels stopped his car on the highway.

Aygun was released near Ovacik town in the Tunceli province, governor Mustafa Taskesen told NTV.

"He is in good health and expected to be in Tunceli after judicial procedures are concluded," Tasekesen said.

Turkish security forces on Monday launched an operation to locate the abducted lawmaker. The operation came amid intensified clashes between Kurdish rebels and Turkish troops in the region.

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels confirmed in a statement they were holding the lawmaker and warned Turkey to abandon its rescue operation.

It marked the first time since PKK rebels began their battle for autonomy in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast in 1984 that they have abducted a member of the Turkish parliament.