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| Kurd leader Ocalan calls for congress to end Turkey armed struggle | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has renewed a call for his fighters to end their armed struggle in Turkey. | The jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has renewed a call for his fighters to end their armed struggle in Turkey. |
| In a message read out at a huge rally marking the Kurdish new year, Ocalan called for a congress to decide on abandoning the insurgency. | In a message read out at a huge rally marking the Kurdish new year, Ocalan called for a congress to decide on abandoning the insurgency. |
| His Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been waging a 30-year armed struggle for Kurdish independence. | His Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been waging a 30-year armed struggle for Kurdish independence. |
| He called a ceasefire in 2013 and there are growing hopes of a long-term deal. | He called a ceasefire in 2013 and there are growing hopes of a long-term deal. |
| 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. |
| Analysis: Guney Yildiz, BBC Kurdish affairs analyst | Analysis: Guney Yildiz, BBC Kurdish affairs analyst |
| Today's statement by Ocalan, read in front of hundreds of thousands of people, was a key step in a process that both Turkish and PKK officials believe is the most important issue facing the country. | Today's statement by Ocalan, read in front of hundreds of thousands of people, was a key step in a process that both Turkish and PKK officials believe is the most important issue facing the country. |
| A senior Turkish official told the BBC that a solution to the Kurdish question would have repercussions that go well beyond Turkey's borders, affecting Syria, Iraq and Iran, as well as non-regional powers. A senior Kurdish politician said a solution would help Kurds defeat Islamic State (IS) militants across the border in northern Syria. | A senior Turkish official told the BBC that a solution to the Kurdish question would have repercussions that go well beyond Turkey's borders, affecting Syria, Iraq and Iran, as well as non-regional powers. A senior Kurdish politician said a solution would help Kurds defeat Islamic State (IS) militants across the border in northern Syria. |
| One significant difference in this year's Newroz celebration was that the flags of the People's Protection Unit (YPG) - a close ally of Turkey's Kurds across the border in Syria - were so widespread, signalling that although the Kurds may be ending their armed struggle against Turkey, they will continue the fight against IS in Syria and Iraq. | One significant difference in this year's Newroz celebration was that the flags of the People's Protection Unit (YPG) - a close ally of Turkey's Kurds across the border in Syria - were so widespread, signalling that although the Kurds may be ending their armed struggle against Turkey, they will continue the fight against IS in Syria and Iraq. |
| Ocalan has been in prison since 1999, serving a life sentence for treason. | Ocalan has been in prison since 1999, serving a life sentence for treason. |
| His message was delivered instead by Sirri Sureyya Onder, a pro-Kurdish politician who visited Ocalan in jail on Thursday. | His message was delivered instead by Sirri Sureyya Onder, a pro-Kurdish politician who visited Ocalan in jail on Thursday. |
| Hundreds of thousands attended the celebration in Diyarbakir, the largest Kurdish-populated city in eastern Turkey, with many carrying images of the imprisoned leader. | Hundreds of thousands attended the celebration in Diyarbakir, the largest Kurdish-populated city in eastern Turkey, with many carrying images of the imprisoned leader. |
| A ceasefire announced by Ocalan in 2013 still holds despite ongoing mistrust between the two sides. | A ceasefire announced by Ocalan in 2013 still holds despite ongoing mistrust between the two sides. |
| Stumbling blocks remain. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan angered some Kurds by saying the country "never had a Kurdish problem". | Stumbling blocks remain. 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. |