British man injured in bomb blast at Turkish resort

The victim was named by the semi-official Anatolian News Agency as John Willoughby, 63. Another of the people injured by the blast outside a bank in the popular Aegean resort of Cesme yesterday was reported to be in a serious condition.

The Germany-based Mezo-potamya News Agency, which often reports rebel statements, said the shadowy Kurdistan Freedom Falcons Organisation (TAK) had claimed responsibility. "They had warned authorities before the attack and that they will continue to target tourist areas," the group was quoted as saying.

A bomb attack in another Aegean resort, Kusadasi, in April was claimed by the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). Cesme and Kusadasi are popular with Turkish tourists as well as being package-holiday destinations for foreigners.

Yesterday's bomb comes at a time of renewed fighting between Kurdish separatists and the army. The PKK had declared a unilateral ceasefire in 1999, but called it off a year ago and in recent weeks there has been an increase in attacks, mainly in the south-east of Turkey.

On Saturday, three Turkish soldiers were killed and eight wounded when their vehicle hit a landmine, believed to have been planted by the PKK.