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PKK Rebels Extend Cease-Fire in Turkey

   VOA News 30 September 2010
   Members  of  the  Kurdistan  Workers'  Party,  or PKK, are seen in the
   Qandil   mountain   range,  Iraq,  after  initiating  a  a  unilateral
   cease-fire for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, 13 Aug 2010

Photo: AP

   Members  of  the  Kurdistan  Workers'  Party,  or PKK, are seen in the
   Qandil   mountain   range,  Iraq,  after  initiating  a  a  unilateral
   cease-fire for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, 13 Aug 2010

   Kurdish  rebels in Turkey say they are extending their cease-fire by a
   month,  and  have  called on the Turkish government to engage in peace
   negotiations.
   The  acting  leader  of  the  Kurdistan  Workers  Party  (PKK),  Murat
   Karayilan,   told   journalists  Thursday  the  group  is  willing  to
   indefinitely  suspend  attacks if the government shows a commitment to
   peace.
   Turkish  media  reports  say  officials  have  started  talks with PKK
   leaders to convince the rebels to lay down their arms.
   Turkey has ignored all PKK cease-fire declarations in the past and has
   continued military operations against the group.
   The  rebels began the cease-fire in August to coincide with the Muslim
   holy  month  of  Ramadan.   At  that  time, a spokesman for the group
   demanded Ankara release 1,700 Kurdish political prisoners.
   Kurdish rebels in southeast Turkey have been fighting for autonomy for
   more than 20 years.
   The  PKK  is labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United
   States and the European Union.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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