Turkey voices caution over rebels' truce call
AP
Some thousands of supporters demonstrate waving various PKK flags and images of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, in southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, Thursday, March 21, 2013, as Ocalan called Thursday for an immediate cease-fire and for thousands of his fighters to withdraw from Turkish territory, a major step toward ending the fighting for self-rule for Kurds in southeastern Turkey, one of the world's bloodiest insurgencies lasting nearly 30-years and costing tens of thousands of lives. (AP Photo)
Some thousands of supporters demonstrate waving various PKK flags and images of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, in southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, Thursday, March 21, 2013, as Ocalan called Thursday for an immediate cease-fire and for thousands of his fighters to withdraw from Turkish territory, a major step toward ending the fighting for self-rule for Kurds in southeastern Turkey, one of the world's bloodiest insurgencies lasting nearly 30-years and costing tens of thousands of lives. (AP Photo)
In this photo taken Sunday, March 17, 2013, Kurds wave banners depicting imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in Istanbul, Turkey. Imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, in a message relayed by Kurdish legislators who visited him on his prison island, said Monday, March 18 that peace talks with Turkey are making "positive progress" and that he plans to make a "historic" announcement to coincide with a Kurdish spring festival. (AP Photo)
FILE - In this file photo provided by the Turkish Intelligence Service on Feb. 18, 1999, Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan poses in front of Turkish flags before being interrogated by Turkish officials at the prison-island of Imrali , Turkey. Ocalan said Monday, March 18, 2013 that peace talks with Turkey are making "positive progress" and that he plans to make a "historic" announcement to coincide with a Kurdish spring festival. (AP Photo/Turkish Intelligence Service, File)
FILE - In this Monday Feb. 15, 1999 file photo provided by the Turkish Intelligence Service o the chief of the Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, Abdullah Ocalan sits guarded aboard an aircraft en route to Turkey following his arrest by Turkish special forces in Nairobi, Kenya. Imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan said Monday, March 18, 2013 that peace talks with Turkey are making "positive progress" and that he plans to make a "historic" announcement to coincide with a Kurdish spring festival. (AP Photo/Turkish Intelligence Service, File)
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his lawmakers in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Erdogan said he hopes this week's Kurdish spring festival will herald the start of a peaceful resolution of the nearly 30-year-old conflict with Kurdish rebels. Erdogan's remarks Tuesday came days ahead of the March 21 spring festivities when jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan is expected to reveal his plans for peace, including a possible cease-fire declaration and a timetable for his fighters' retreat from Turkey.(AP Photo)
AMSTERDAM (AP) ? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed the Kurdish rebel leader's call for a cease-fire and for thousands of his fighters to leave Turkey.
Erdogan on Thursday also sounded a note of caution, however, saying Turkey wanted to see "to what extend it is implemented" by the rebels. Erdogan was speaking at a joint news conference with his Dutch counterpart.
Erdogan said Turkish security forces would cease operations against the rebels as soon as Ocalan's call is implemented.
The Turkish leader also lamented the fact that no Turkish flag was flown at festivities in Turkey's largest city in southeast Turkey, where imprisoned rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan's message was read.
Erdogan says the lack of a flag was a "provocative act" and contrary to spirit of Ocalan's message for peace.
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