Erdogan tacitly supports ally's proposal for leniency toward imprisoned Kurdish militant leader

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seemed to springiness his implicit support connected Tuesday for an unprecedented connection by his nationalist state that could lead to leniency for Abdullah Ocalan, nan imprisoned leader of nan banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, o...

ANKARA -- ANKARA (AP) —

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seemed to springiness his implicit support connected Tuesday for an unprecedented connection by his nationalist state that could lead to leniency for Abdullah Ocalan, nan imprisoned leader of nan banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, aliases PKK.

In remarks made during a ceremonial marking nan 101st day of nan Turkish Republic successful Ankara, Erdogan called for an open-minded attack to caller comments by Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli, who suggested past week that Ocalan could beryllium granted parole if he renounces unit and disbands nan PKK. It was Erdogan’s first consequence to Bahceli’s astonishment statement.

Ocalan was convicted connected charges of treason and has been serving a life word connected a situation land disconnected Istanbul since 1999. The PKK has been fighting for an autonomous authorities successful Turkey’s southeast since 1984, and nan unit has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The group is considered a violent statement by Turkey and its Western allies.

“We judge that it would beryllium much beneficial to measure nan approaches precocious put guardant nether nan activity of our People’s Alliance partner (Bahceli) without prejudices,” Erdogan said.

Turkey was astatine a constituent wherever it needed to “demonstrate a wished will and lick nan problems, not disregard them,” Erdogan said.

Bahceli, who has traditionally maintained a hardline stance against nan PKK, amazed galore past week by suggesting that Ocalan could beryllium released from isolation and moreover allowed to reside Parliament if he dissolves nan PKK.

Ocalan said successful a connection conveyed by his nephew past week that he was fresh to activity for peace.

Eyes were connected Erdogan this week aft an attack connected a Turkish defense firm successful Ankara that killed astatine slightest 5 group and was claimed by nan subject helping of nan PKK.

Turkey blamed nan onslaught connected nan PKK and instantly launched airstrikes connected locations and accommodation suspected to beryllium utilized by nan militant group successful bluish Iraq aliases by its affiliates successful bluish Syria.

The PKK’s subject wing, nan People’s Defense Center, said, however, that nan onslaught was not related to nan latest “political agenda,” insisting it was planned agelong before.

Erdogan’s endorsement of Bahçeli’s connection comes astatine a clip of signs that a caller bid process is starting pinch nan purpose of ending nan four-decade-long conflict betwixt Turkey's subject and nan PKK.

The conflict created heavy rooted responsibility lines successful Turkish nine and galore pro-Kurdish politicians and dissidents were arrested arsenic consequence of crackdowns passim nan years.

Erdogan said a caller governmental attack was needed owed to challenges successful nan Middle East.

“For this, it is imperative that we, arsenic a state and a nation, quickly lick nan political, societal and economical problems successful beforehand of us” Erdogan added.