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| PKK leader: Turkey is protecting IS by attacking Kurds | PKK leader: Turkey is protecting IS by attacking Kurds |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The man leading the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has accused Turkey of trying to protect the Islamic State group by attacking Kurdish fighters. | |
| Cemil Bayik told the BBC he believed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted IS to succeed to prevent Kurdish gains. | Cemil Bayik told the BBC he believed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted IS to succeed to prevent Kurdish gains. |
| Kurdish fighters - among them the PKK - have secured significant victories against IS militants in Syria and Iraq. | Kurdish fighters - among them the PKK - have secured significant victories against IS militants in Syria and Iraq. |
| But Turkey, like a number of Western countries, considers the PKK a terrorist organisation. | But Turkey, like a number of Western countries, considers the PKK a terrorist organisation. |
| A ceasefire in the long-running conflict with the group appeared to disintegrate in July, when Turkey began bombing PKK camps in northern Iraq, at the same time as launching air strikes on IS militants. | A ceasefire in the long-running conflict with the group appeared to disintegrate in July, when Turkey began bombing PKK camps in northern Iraq, at the same time as launching air strikes on IS militants. |
| Observers say PKK fighters have been on the receiving end of far more attacks than IS. | Observers say PKK fighters have been on the receiving end of far more attacks than IS. |
| But Turkish officials deny that the campaign against IS group is a cover to prevent Kurdish gains. On Wednesday, Turkey said it was planning a "comprehensive battle" against IS. | But Turkish officials deny that the campaign against IS group is a cover to prevent Kurdish gains. On Wednesday, Turkey said it was planning a "comprehensive battle" against IS. |
| 'Stop Kurdish advance' | 'Stop Kurdish advance' |
| "The Turkish claim they are fighting Islamic State… but in fact they are fighting the PKK," Cemil Bayik told BBC's Jiyar Gol. | "The Turkish claim they are fighting Islamic State… but in fact they are fighting the PKK," Cemil Bayik told BBC's Jiyar Gol. |
| "They are doing it to limit the PKK's fight against IS. Turkey is protecting IS. | "They are doing it to limit the PKK's fight against IS. Turkey is protecting IS. |
| "[President] Erdogan is behind IS massacres. His aim is to stop the Kurdish advance against them, thus advancing his aim of Turkishness in Turkey." | |
| More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK began its armed struggle against the Turkish government in 1984. | More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK began its armed struggle against the Turkish government in 1984. |
| In the 1990s, the organisation dropped its demand for a Kurdish state and instead called for more autonomy for the Kurds. | In the 1990s, the organisation dropped its demand for a Kurdish state and instead called for more autonomy for the Kurds. |
| In March 2013, its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan called a ceasefire. | In March 2013, its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan called a ceasefire. |
| But violence has resumed in recent weeks after a suicide bombing blamed on IS killed 32 people in the predominantly Kurdish town of Suruc. | But violence has resumed in recent weeks after a suicide bombing blamed on IS killed 32 people in the predominantly Kurdish town of Suruc. |
| The PKK's military wing killed two Turkish police officers, claiming they had collaborated with IS in the bombing. | The PKK's military wing killed two Turkish police officers, claiming they had collaborated with IS in the bombing. |
| Turkey says the group has been behind a number of other attacks. | Turkey says the group has been behind a number of other attacks. |
| When, on 24 July, Turkey officially launched its first air strikes against IS, it also attacked Kurdish positions in northern Iraq. | |
| Negotiations 'only choice' | Negotiations 'only choice' |
| Speaking to the BBC, Mr Bayik said negotiations were the "only choice" for an end to the Kurdish conflict. | Speaking to the BBC, Mr Bayik said negotiations were the "only choice" for an end to the Kurdish conflict. |
| He said the PKK would stop fighting if Turkey ended its military operation, and called for international monitors to oversee a ceasefire. | He said the PKK would stop fighting if Turkey ended its military operation, and called for international monitors to oversee a ceasefire. |
| Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has previously said that strikes against the PKK would continue until the group surrenders. | Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has previously said that strikes against the PKK would continue until the group surrenders. |
| The country's fight with the PKK is complicating the US-led war on the Islamic State group, for which the US has relied heavily on Syrian Kurdish fighters affiliated with Turkey's Kurdish rebels. | The country's fight with the PKK is complicating the US-led war on the Islamic State group, for which the US has relied heavily on Syrian Kurdish fighters affiliated with Turkey's Kurdish rebels. |
| Turkey violence | Turkey violence |
| Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on? | Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on? |
| Profile: Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) | Profile: Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) |
| Turkey's dangerous game | Turkey's dangerous game |
| Suruc massacre highlights Turkey's dilemma | Suruc massacre highlights Turkey's dilemma |