14/08/2010 11:55
Kurdish rebels declare Ramadan cease-fire against Turkey
Kurdish rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighting Turkey from northern Iraq announced on Friday a unilateral cease-fire for the period of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
One of the RKK leaders, Bouzan Teken, told reporters that group’s fighters will "cease all their military operations inside Turkey" but will defend themselves if attacked.
The cease-fire will last from Friday until September 20, the period that marks the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Thousands of people have been killed in conflict between Turkey and Kurdish fighters since 1984. Turkish authorities say that the Kurdish rebels are responsible for disruption of gas pipeline which occurred on August 11 in the south-east regions of Turkey; Turkey also lays to RKK’s charge of many armed attacks of the past. Kurdish fighters have been fighting for decades for the creation of an independent Kurdistan. This Sunday will mark the 26th anniversary of the conflict.