Report: Kurds Kill Four in Turkey
Sunday, 11 April 1999
A N K A R A , T U R K E Y (AP)
SUSPECTED KURDISH rebels detonated a remote-controlled bomb
Sunday in southern Turkey, killing three soldiers and a civilian,
the Anatolia news agency said.
The bombing came the same day imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader
Abdullah Ocalan urged his followers to observe a cease-fire the
rebels unilaterally announced in September.
Ocalan's plea, contained in a letter published Sunday in the
Evrensel daily newspaper, came after his Kurdistan Workers
Party carried out a series of fatal attacks across Turkey including
suicide bombings and arsons.
More than 15 people were killed and scores were wounded in
the attacks that followed Ocalan's Feb. 15 capture by Turkish
forces in Kenya.
There were no immediate details on Sunday's attack in the village
of Dereli.
Ocalan, who is awaiting trial on charges of treason and could face
the death penalty, said the cease-fire should be observed at least
until a new Turkish government is formed after April 18 elections.
It was not immediately clear if the rebels would heed the call.
The September cease-fire, calling for an end to fighting between
autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels and Turkish troops, was
ignored by the government and immediately abandoned.
Turkey says it will not negotiate with the PKK, an organization it
regards as a terrorist group.
Ocalan also asked the government to end the fighting and work
toward peace, starting with a general amnesty. The government
has been offering lenient punishment to rebels who surrender
and provide inside information about their group.
In his letter, Ocalan said "The PKK should prepare itself for
legalization within the democratic system." He did not elaborate.
The PKK has been fighting for autonomy in the southeast of
Turkey since 1984. Some 37,000 people have died in the fighting |
