(Adds official wounded count, search operation, grenade)

By Seyhmus Cakan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Oct 10 (Reuters) - A policeman was killed and five people were wounded on Wednesday in a grenade attack on a police vehicle in southeast Turkey, the regional governor said.

The identity of the attackers was not immediately known, security officials said, adding they believed Kurdish separatists were behind the attack.

Police have begun a large-scale operation in the city to find the attackers, gaining legal permission to raid private residences.

The blast occurred following stepped-up attacks by rebels from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) against security forces and civilians and as the government prepares to seek parliament approval to fight the rebels across the border in northern Iraq.

Rebel attacks have killed 15 security personnel this week.

In Wednesday's attack, the grenade was thrown near the market district in the city of Diyarbakir, officials said, wounding three civilians and two other police officers.

Ankara blames the PKK for the deaths of more than 30,000 people since 1984, when the group took up arms with the aim of carving out a Kurdish homeland in southeast Turkey. (Additional reporting by Ferit Demir in Tunceli)

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