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Turkey Kurds: PKK chief Ocalan calls for ceasefire Turkey Kurds: PKK chief Ocalan calls for ceasefire
(35 minutes later)
The jailed leader of Kurdish rebels fighting Turkey, Abdullah Ocalan, has called for a truce after years of war.The jailed leader of Kurdish rebels fighting Turkey, Abdullah Ocalan, has called for a truce after years of war.
Ocalan also urged his fighters to withdraw from Turkey, in a message 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 to cheers during Kurdish New Year celebrations in the city of Diyarbakir.
The 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 Recep Tayyip Erdogan - the two key figures involved - are talking via intermediaries.
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 for treason.
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) leader has been in Turkish custody since his capture in Kenya in 1999.The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) leader has been in Turkish custody since his capture in Kenya in 1999.
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.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.
"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. "We have reached the point where weapons should be silent and ideas and politics should speak. A new phase in our struggle is beginning," Ocalan's message said.
"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. "Now a door is opening to a phase where we are moving from armed resistance to an era of democratic political struggle.
"Lay down your weapons and exit [Turkish] borders. We are shifting from armed struggle to democratic struggle." "Now it is time for our armed units to move across the border [to northern Iraq]. This is not an end but a new beginning. This is not abandoning the struggle, but a start to a different struggle."
News that Ocalan was about to make an announcement was communicated by Kurdish politicians who visited him earlier this week at the prison where he is being held on the island of Imrali. Ocalan move?
Ocalan had said his declaration would be "historic". Ocalan had told Kurdish politicians who visited him earlier this week at his prison on the island of Imrali that his declaration would be "historic".
In February the PKK leader called for prisoners to be released by both sides.In February the PKK leader called 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 freed eight Turkish soldiers and officials it had held captive in northern Iraq for up to two years.
Ocalan move?
The PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984 and is regarded by Turkey, the US and EU as a terrorist organisation. Last year saw some of the heaviest fighting in decades.The PKK launched its armed campaign in 1984 and 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.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.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, the BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul reports. The government has also not dismissed speculation that Ocalan could be moved to house arrest, our correspondent reports.
On the eve of the truce call, 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, which have been going on since October.
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.
"The PKK, Ocalan and the government must be brave... There is massive social support for this process."
In Diyarbakir members of the crowd spoke of their hopes for an end to conflict.
"I have a son in the mountains and one in the army. It has got to stop," one elderly farmer told AFP news agency.
"We are waiting for peace, for better days. We don't want clashes any more," a woman told Reuters.