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.

A surge of rebel violence has killed more than a dozen soldiers and policemen in recent weeks and sparked widespread condemnation.

Militants believed to be linked to the rebels have also bombed tourist resorts, killing three and injuring more than a dozen tourists.

Ocalan’s move follows US pledges of support in cracking down on the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.

Mr Bilmez said Ocalan made the call to try to halt the “rising tension and continuous clashes”.

“I am fulfilling my responsibilities and I am calling on the PKK (to declare) a cease-fire. I hope that the PKK will heed my call and that results will come out of it,” Ocalan said in a statement faxed by his lawyers.

Turkey has ignored all previous ceasefires by the group, saying it does not negotiate with terrorists. Military commanders have vowed to fight until all rebels are killed or surrender.