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PKK shooting: Kurds mass for women's funerals PKK shooting: Kurds mass for women's funerals
(about 1 hour later)
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. Thousands of Kurds are attending the funerals in Diyarbakir, Turkey, of three female Kurdish activists shot dead in Paris last week.
The coffins of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) members Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Soylemez were carried through crowds of mourners. Crowds chanted as the coffins of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) members Sakine Cansiz, Fidan Dogan and Leyla Saylemez were carried through the city streets to a parade ground where the funerals are being held.
There is tight security at the event.
No-one has been arrested for the crime and the motive is unclear.No-one has been arrested for the crime and the motive is unclear.
But a prominent Kurdish politician said the killings would not deter those seeking an end to the Kurdish conflict.But a prominent Kurdish politician said the killings would not deter those seeking an end to the Kurdish conflict.
Chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, Selahattin Demirtas, vowed to support a fragile peace process. The 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.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. There were calls for revenge as the coffins, draped in the red, green and yellow Kurdish flag, made their way through the crowds in the south-eastern Turkish city.
Some women chanted "Fighting makes you free", and other pro-PKK slogans, as they followed the funeral procession.
But many female mourners were wearing white scarves, a symbol of peace.
Negotiations
Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had appealed for calm and suggested the deaths may have been intended to sabotage peace effort.
Officials have been in talks with the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in an effort 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.
White scarves Turkish security forces are on alert ahead of possible demonstrations by the Kurdish minority after the funerals.
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. Police helicopters have been flying over the city, which is seen as the heart of the Kurdish community and culture in Turkey.
Demonstrators stood in front of a line of police dressed in riot gear.
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.
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.