ISTANBUL – Imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan called on his militant group Thursday to lay down its arms and dissolve as part of a new bid to end a four-decade long conflict with Turkey's ...

It referred to the insurgents' leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned by Turkey since 1999. "We declare a ceasefire effective today to pave the way for the implementation of Leader Apo's ...

The conflict between the PKK and Turkey has had devastating effects on Turkey and neighbors. Ocalan’s peace call on Thursday marked a major turning point and could have far-reaching implications ...

The PKK was established by Ocalan in 1978, initially seeking full independence and statehood for Turkey's large Kurdish minority, but later asking for autonomy. Since then, as many as 40,000 ...

People want this war to finish.” President Erdogan cautiously welcomed Mr. Ocalan’s appeal for a ceasefire, calling it a “historic opportunity” for peace but warning that Turkey would not hesitate to ...

"I am making a call for the laying down of arms, and I take on the historical responsibility of this call," Ocalan said in a letter made public by Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party members.

delegation members releasing an statement from Ocalan, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Metin Yoksu) ...

delegation members releasing an statement from Ocalan, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Metin Yoksu) ...

Kurdish Leader Ocalan Issues Message From Prison, Urging PKK to Disarm to Make Peace With Turkey ISTANBUL (AP) — Imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan called on his militant group Thursday ...

The group's leadership is widely expected to heed any call Ocalan makes, although some factions within the group could resist, analysts say. Call for greater democracy in Turkey The peace effort ...

The group, founded by Ocalan in 1978, has led an insurgency in Turkey’s southeast since 1984. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.