Kurdish rebels end unilateral ceasefire declaration

Kurdish rebels fighting Turkey for autonomy have ended a temporary unilateral ceasefire they had declared a month ago in their bid to reduce tensions ahead of Turkey’s November 1 election.

A statement from a Kurdish umbrella organisation said the rebels had ended the ceasefire, citing the government’s “war policy” and “ongoing attacks”.

The statement was carried by the Firat news agency, which is close to the rebels.

Turkey’s government had rejected the October 10 declaration and pressed ahead with operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

The ruling party, which won a resounding victory in Sunday’s election, has vowed to keep up the fight against the rebel group until it disarms and fighters withdraw from Turkey.

The renewed fighting has claimed hundreds of lives since July.

Turkey’s Kurdish rebels end cease-fire https://t.co/5NirUTnp5j

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 5, 2015