Kurdish rebel leader calls for new ceasefire

AN imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader called on his guerrilla fighters to declare a new ceasefire as rebel attacks targeting civilians and foreign tourists have drawn global criticism.

Abdullah Ocalan, urged his autonomy-seeking Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, to announce a new unilateral ceasefire to seek a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish problem, lawyer Ibrahim Bilmez said.

Mr Bilmez and other lawyers met with Ocalan on Wednesday.