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Abdullah Ocalan: Kurdish leader to announce Turkey peace plan | Abdullah Ocalan: Kurdish leader to announce Turkey peace plan |
(35 minutes later) | |
The jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan is set to announce details of a keenly anticipated peace plan with Turkey. | The jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan is set to announce details of a keenly anticipated peace plan with Turkey. |
The statement is expected to be read out by pro-Kurdish politicians who visited him on Thursday. | |
Ocalan's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been waging a 30-year armed struggle for Kurdish independence. | Ocalan's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been waging a 30-year armed struggle for Kurdish independence. |
A ceasefire has been in place since 2013, and there are hopes for a permanent end to the conflict. | |
More than 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have died in fighting for a Kurdish homeland in Turkey's south-east. | More than 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have died in fighting for a Kurdish homeland in Turkey's south-east. |
Ocalan has been in prison since 1999 serving a life sentence for treason. | |
'Practical details' | 'Practical details' |
The content of Ocalan's message has not been released, but Sirri Sureyya Onder, from the People's Democratic Party (HDP), one of those who visited the rebel leader, gave some clues. | The content of Ocalan's message has not been released, but Sirri Sureyya Onder, from the People's Democratic Party (HDP), one of those who visited the rebel leader, gave some clues. |
"It will be a road map for the nation and the region, with theoretical and practical details on the peace process," he told AFP. | "It will be a road map for the nation and the region, with theoretical and practical details on the peace process," he told AFP. |
The statement is due to be read out in the city of Diyarbakir, the largest Kurdish-populated city in eastern Turkey, amid huge Newroz, or new year, celebrations. | The statement is due to be read out in the city of Diyarbakir, the largest Kurdish-populated city in eastern Turkey, amid huge Newroz, or new year, celebrations. |
Ocalan made another significant announcement last month, calling for supporters to attend a conference "aimed at ending the armed struggle". | Ocalan made another significant announcement last month, calling for supporters to attend a conference "aimed at ending the armed struggle". |
He also declared a ceasefire in 2013 that holds despite ongoing mistrust between the two sides. | He also declared a ceasefire in 2013 that holds despite ongoing mistrust between the two sides. |
Stumbling blocks remain. The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, angered some Kurds by saying the country "never had a Kurdish problem". | Stumbling blocks remain. The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, angered some Kurds by saying the country "never had a Kurdish problem". |
Turkey is facing parliamentary elections later this year, with analysts suggesting Mr Erdogan's comments were an attempt to shore-up nationalist support. | Turkey is facing parliamentary elections later this year, with analysts suggesting Mr Erdogan's comments were an attempt to shore-up nationalist support. |