The Turkish government extended the "state of emergency" in key eastern (and predominantly Kurdish) provinces. The state of emergency covers Tunceli, Van, Hakkari, Simak, and Diyarbakir provinces. Officially the state of emergency was extended only four months. Despite recent peace moves, the Turkish Army is leery of losing its special police powers under the state of emergency conditions. The state of emergency was lifted in Siirt Province in November 1999, however.