The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is ready for a new ceasefire with the Turkish authorities despite almost three months of deadly violence, one of its leaders said in an interview at its stronghold in northern Iraq.
The PKK, which since 1984 has waged an armed struggle for autonomy and greater rights for Kurds in Turkey, declared a ceasefire in March 2013. But it ripped up the truce in July this year, accusing the Turkish authorities of collaborating with Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria, allegations Ankara vehemently denies. The Turkish authorities say over 140 members of the security forces have been killed in PKK attacks since and have hit back with a relentless bombing campaign against the group.
“We are ourselves ready for a ceasefire from right now,” Cemil Bayik told AFP in an interview in the group’s stronghold of the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq.