Turkey voices caution over Kurdish ceasefire call

Erdogan welcomes Ocalan’s call for a truce and for PKK fighters to leave southern Turkey

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses lawmakers in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (photo credit: AP)
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses lawmakers in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (photo credit: AP)

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed the Kurdish rebel leader’s call for a cease-fire and for thousands of his fighters to leave Turkey.

Erdogan on Thursday also sounded a note of caution, however, saying Turkey wanted to see “to what extend it is implemented” by the rebels. Erdogan was speaking at a joint news conference with his Dutch counterpart.

Erdogan said Turkish security forces would cease operations against the rebels as soon as Ocalan’s call is implemented.

The Turkish leader also lamented the fact that no Turkish flag was flown at festivities in Turkey’s largest city in southeast Turkey, where imprisoned rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan’s message was read.

Erdogan says the lack of a flag was a “provocative act” and contrary to spirit of Ocalan’s message for peace.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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