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Kurdish PKK rebels 'begin leaving Turkey' after truce | Kurdish PKK rebels 'begin leaving Turkey' after truce |
(35 minutes later) | |
Kurdish rebel fighters have begun leaving south-eastern Turkey for their safe havens in Iraq under a ceasefire, Kurdish sources say. | Kurdish rebel fighters have begun leaving south-eastern Turkey for their safe havens in Iraq under a ceasefire, Kurdish sources say. |
"We know that they have started moving," Selahattin Demirtas, a pro-Kurdish politician involved in the peace process, told AFP news agency. | "We know that they have started moving," Selahattin Demirtas, a pro-Kurdish politician involved in the peace process, told AFP news agency. |
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced last month a phased withdrawal to start early in May. | The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced last month a phased withdrawal to start early in May. |
More than 40,000 people have died in their 30-year fight against Turkey. | More than 40,000 people have died in their 30-year fight against Turkey. |
Gultan Kisinak, who co-chairs the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) along with Mr Demirtas, told the Associated Press news agency that a first group of fighters had started to move toward the border with northern Iraq. | Gultan Kisinak, who co-chairs the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) along with Mr Demirtas, told the Associated Press news agency that a first group of fighters had started to move toward the border with northern Iraq. |
The PKK is believed to have up to 2,000 fighters inside Turkey and their full withdrawal may take up to four months. | |
They are expected to cross the border on foot, heading for their bases in the Qandil Mountains of Iraq. | They are expected to cross the border on foot, heading for their bases in the Qandil Mountains of Iraq. |
Abdullah Ocalan, the veteran PKK leader in prison in Turkey, ordered the withdrawal in March as part of peace negotiations with Ankara. | Abdullah Ocalan, the veteran PKK leader in prison in Turkey, ordered the withdrawal in March as part of peace negotiations with Ankara. |
Withdrawal nerves | Withdrawal nerves |
A PKK spokesman, Bakhtiyar Dogan, told the Kurdish newspaper Hawlati that between 200 and 500 fighters would withdraw on Wednesday. | |
They would, he said, leave from the Semdinli and Sirnak areas of Turkey "on three fronts". | |
According to AFP, PKK fighters complained on the eve of the withdrawal that the Turkish state had increased its forces in the border area and was carrying out surveillance flights. | |
Such actions, they said, were "delaying the peace process" and paving the way for "provocations and clashes". | Such actions, they said, were "delaying the peace process" and paving the way for "provocations and clashes". |
The Turkish army did not confirm any extra measures but said their "fight against any terrorism" continued. | The Turkish army did not confirm any extra measures but said their "fight against any terrorism" continued. |
The PKK's acting leader, Murat Karayilan, warned in April that the fighters would strike back and the withdrawal would halt "immediately" if they were attacked. | The PKK's acting leader, Murat Karayilan, warned in April that the fighters would strike back and the withdrawal would halt "immediately" if they were attacked. |
"We have no doubt about the state but fear provocation from dark forces," Mr Demirtas said. | "We have no doubt about the state but fear provocation from dark forces," Mr Demirtas said. |
During a 1999 withdrawal, the Turkish military attacked the rebels, killing some 500. | |
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly pledged the army will not attack any PKK fighters who withdrew. | |
On Tuesday, he said that "laying down weapons" should be the group's top priority in order for the peace process to succeed. | |