PKK rebels warn of more violence across Turkey

[Anthea]

Kurdish PKK rebels warns of escalation of violence across Turkey

Kurdish rebels warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan they will "escalate the war" if the rights of Kurds are not accepted.

The leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Cemil Bayik, said the group is willing to negotiate but not surrender.

A spokesman for the Turkish President has stated there is no chance of negotiation with the PKK "at the moment".

Mr Bayik said: "The Kurds will defend themselves to the end, so long as this is the Turkish approach – of course the PKK will escalate the war.

"We don't want to separate from Turkey and set up a state.

"We don't want to divide Turkey. We want to live within the borders of Turkey on our own land freely...The struggle will continue until the Kurds' innate rights are accepted."

Turkish Presidential adviser Ilnur Cevik told the BBC the PKK are "trying to create a separate state in Turkey – this is outright secession".

He added: "We are going to struggle right to the bitter end to stop this. And the Turkish people are now determined – public opinion polls say. They say, 'don't stop'."

A two-year-long ceasefire between Turkey and PKK broke down last July with violence escalating including Turkish air strikes on PKK bases in Northern Iraq.

The PKK is categorised as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 99236.html