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PKK shooting: Kurds gather for activists' funerals PKK shooting: Kurds mass for women's funerals
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of Kurds have gathered in south-east Turkey for the funerals of three female Kurdish activists shot dead in Paris last week. Thousands of Kurds have massed on the streets in Diyarbakir, Turkey for the funerals of three female Kurdish activists shot dead in Paris last week.
The bodies of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) members Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez were flown to Diyarbakir on Wednesday night. The coffins of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) members Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez were carried through crowds of mourners.
Politicians have called for calm and urged people not to let the killings derail a fragile peace process. No-one has been arrested for the crime and the motive is unclear.
No group has said it killed them, but many Kurds blame elements of the state. But a prominent Kurdish politician said the killings would not deter those seeking an end to the Kurdish conflict.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, however, has suggested the deaths may have been intended to sabotage peace efforts. Chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, Selahattin Demirtas, vowed to support a fragile peace process.
Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has suggested the deaths may have been intended to sabotage peace efforts, and called for calm.
No group has said it killed the women, but many Kurds blame elements of the state.
Officials have been in talks with the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to put an end to the group's armed campaign.Officials have been in talks with the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to put an end to the group's armed campaign.
Mr Erdogan has also said his government will continue anti-PKK operations until the Kurdish militants lay down their arms.Mr Erdogan has also said his government will continue anti-PKK operations until the Kurdish militants lay down their arms.
On Wednesday Turkish jets reportedly bombed Kurdish targets in northern Iraq for a third consecutive day.On Wednesday Turkish jets reportedly bombed Kurdish targets in northern Iraq for a third consecutive day.
Last year saw some of the heaviest fighting with the PKK in decades. Since the conflict began, more than 40,000 people have been killed.Last year saw some of the heaviest fighting with the PKK in decades. Since the conflict began, more than 40,000 people have been killed.
The group, regarded by Turkey, the US and EU as a terrorist organisation, launched an armed campaign for an ethnic Kurdish homeland in south-east Turkey in 1984.The group, regarded by Turkey, the US and EU as a terrorist organisation, launched an armed campaign for an ethnic Kurdish homeland in south-east Turkey in 1984.
Flag-draped coffins White scarves
The BBC's James Reynolds, in Diyarbakir, the unofficial Kurdish capital in Turkey, said the city was expected to come to a standstill for Thursday's funeral ceremony. On Wednesday night, in the cold outside Diyarbakir's airport, a crowd chanted pro-Kurdish slogans as the women's coffins were unloaded from a plane.
On Wednesday night, in the cold outside Diyarbakir's airport, a crowd chanted pro-Kurdish slogans as the women's coffins were unloaded from a plane. .
Demonstrators stood in front of a line of police dressed in riot gear.Demonstrators stood in front of a line of police dressed in riot gear.
Many wore white scarves in remembrance of the women.Many wore white scarves in remembrance of the women.
After the ceremony the women's bodies are to be taken to their home villages for burial.After the ceremony the women's bodies are to be taken to their home villages for burial.
Turkish security forces have been put on alert ahead of possible demonstrations by the Kurdish minority after the funerals.Turkish security forces have been put on alert ahead of possible demonstrations by the Kurdish minority after the funerals.
Large crowds gathered at Istanbul when the bodies were flown back from France on Wednesday.Large crowds gathered at Istanbul when the bodies were flown back from France on Wednesday.
At a memorial to honour the dead in the Parisian suburb of Villiers Le Bel earlier, thousands of Kurds paid tribute as the three coffins stood draped in Kurdish flags inside the community centre amid flowers and burning candles.At a memorial to honour the dead in the Parisian suburb of Villiers Le Bel earlier, thousands of Kurds paid tribute as the three coffins stood draped in Kurdish flags inside the community centre amid flowers and burning candles.