The explosives were found hidden, along with 20 detonators, in Sirnak province Friday, the Sirnak governor's office said in a written statement.

It said that the explosives were destined for bomb attacks by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- the armed separatist group fighting for self rule -- ahead of Newroz, Kurdish New Year, on March 31.

Newroz has become an occasion for Turkey's Kurdish minority to demand greater freedoms or demonstrate support for the PKK. Celebrations have been marred by bloodhsed in the past.

More than 37,000 people have been killed since 1984 when the PKK picked up arms for self-rule in the mainly Kurdish southeast of Turkey.

The group, listed as a terrorist organization by Ankara and much of the international community, called a unilateral ceasefire on October 1 saying it hoped to pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The truce, like previous ones called by the rebels, was rejected by Turkey but fighting has decreased markedly since then.