The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced on Saturday a ceasefire with Turkey in response to a call by its leader Abdullah Ocalan for the group's dissolution and disarmament, reports said, citing a statement by the PKK steering committee.
"In order to pave the way for the implementation of leader Apo's [Ocalan's] call for peace and democratic society, we are declaring a ceasefire effective from today [Saturday]," the PKK steering committee reportedly stated.
Representatives of Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party read out on Thursday an appeal by Ocalan to the militant group, calling for its dissolution and disarmament. The Kurdish armed groups of Syria's Democratic Union Party said they were ready to lay down their arms if they were allowed to carry out political activities in Turkey.
“We agree with the content of the [Ocalan's] call and declare that from our side we will abide by and fulfill its demands,” media quoted the PKK committee's statement as saying.