Turkey Kurds: PKK chief Ocalan expected to make 'truce' call
Turkey Kurds: PKK chief Ocalan calls for ceasefire
(about 1 hour later)
The jailed leader of Kurdish rebels fighting Turkey, Abdullah Ocalan, is set to make a "historic" announcement, expected to be a ceasefire call.
The jailed leader of Kurdish rebels fighting Turkey, Abdullah Ocalan, has called for a truce after years of war.
Ocalan's message is expected to be read out during Kurdish New Year celebrations in the city of Diyarbakir.
Ocalan also urged his fighters to withdraw from Turkey, in a message read out during Kurdish New Year celebrations in the city of Diyarbakir.
The expected truce call follows months of peace talks between his PKK forces and the Turkish state.
The truce call follows months of peace talks between his PKK forces and the Turkish state.
More than 40,000 people have died in the 30-year fight for an ethnic Kurdish homeland in Turkey's south-east.
More than 40,000 people have died in the 30-year fight for an ethnic Kurdish homeland in Turkey's south-east.
Several previous ceasefire attempts have failed.
Several previous ceasefire attempts have failed.
But the BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul points out that this time Ocalan and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan - the two key figures involved - are talking via intermediaries.
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) leader has been in Turkish custody since his capture in Kenya in 1999.
Our correspondent says it is clear Ocalan is still the final decision-maker among the Kurds, despite the 14 years he has spent serving a life sentence.
Tens of thousands of people gathered to hear Ocalan's announcement in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. It was read out to the crowd by two MPs in Kurdish and Turkish.
On the eve of Ocalan's expected message, Mr Erdogan condemned a number of blasts in the capital blamed on a left-wing group which opposes the talks with the PKK. He promised to push ahead with "extremely critical and sensitive" peace efforts.
"Today I start a new process witnessed by millions of people," Ocalan said, as reported by Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper. "The period of democratic rights, freedom and equality starts.
Abdullah Demirbas, a district mayor in Diyarbakir, told Reuters news agency there would be more attempts to sabotage talks, but this was a last chance for peace.
"Let us silence the weapons. The bloodshed of the Turkish and Kurdish people will end. This is a process whereby Anatolian and Kurdish communities can live together peacefully.
"The PKK, Ocalan and the government must be brave... There is massive social support for this process."
"Lay down your weapons and exit [Turkish] borders. We are shifting from armed struggle to democratic struggle."
Prisoners
Tens of thousands of people are expected to join Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakir to hear Ocalan's message.
It was communicated by Kurdish politicians who visited him earlier this week at the prison where he is being held on the island of Imrali.
"I continue with my preparations to make a call on 21 March, during the Newroz [New Year] celebrations," Ocalan was quoted as saying.
"The declaration I am going to make will be historic."
As well as a ceasefire, Ocalan may also announce a withdrawal of PKK fighters from Turkish soil, reports say.
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) leader, who has been in Turkish custody since his capture in Kenya in 1999, called in February for prisoners to be released by both sides.
The PKK freed eight Turkish soldiers and officials it had held captive in northern Iraq for up to two years.
The PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984. It is regarded by Turkey, the US and EU as a terrorist organisation. Last year saw some of the heaviest fighting in decades.
The organisation rolled back on its demands for an independent Kurdish state in the 1990s, calling instead for more autonomy.
Reports say the PKK wish list now includes greater constitutional and linguistic rights for Kurds, as well as an easing of pressure on Kurdish activists.
The government has also not dismissed speculation that Ocalan could be moved to house arrest, our correspondent says.
