Turkey: Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebels confirm they will start retreat from Turkey to Iraq this Wednesday
Kurdish rebels reaffirmed on Tuesday that they will start withdrawing guerrilla fighters from Turkey to bases in northern Iraq this week.
The Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, declared a cease-fire in March and promised to gradually pull fighters out of Turkey as part of peace talks aimed at ending a nearly three-decade-old conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. The group has been fighting Turkey for autonomy for Kurds in southeastern Turkey.
The declaration fell short of Turkey’s expectations which had insisted that the rebels retreat unarmed, laying down arms before they leave the Turkish territory. The rebels have also set conditions for peace with Turkey that include democratic reforms to increase the rights of Kurds and an amnesty for all imprisoned rebels, including jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan.