Militants launched an attack with guns and rockets on the command post in the village of Ozekli outside the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, the army said.

One soldier died of his wounds in hospital while five others were injured, it said, adding that the assault had been carried out by the "Separatist Terror Organisation", its usual term for the PKK.

"Two terrorists were rendered ineffective (killed)," it added.

The PKK is carrying out daily attacks in Turkey on the security forces, in an escalating cycle of violence as the military bombs rebel targets inside Turkey and northern Iraq.