Kurdish rebel leader declares cease-fire

By MUCAHIT CEYLAN and SUZAN FRASER

Associated Press

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AP) -- Turkey's state-run television says jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has called for a cease-fire, a major step toward ending one of the world's bloodiest insurgencies.

TRT says that in a message read by a Kurdish legislator in the Kurdish language, Ocalan also called for the withdrawal of Kurdish militants from Turkish territory.

Turkey has embarked on talks with Ocalan to end the nearly 30-year conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives. His group has been fighting for self-rule for Kurds in southeastern Turkey.

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