ISTANBUL -- Convicted Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has called on his Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to end its armed struggle and withdraw its forces from Turkish territory. "I call upon the PKK to end the armed struggle and withdraw their forces (to territory) outside the borders (of Turkey) for the sake of peace from September 1, 1999," Ocalan said in a written statement released by his lawyers Tuesday. "I express my belief that in this way a new stage of dialogue and conciliation will develop," he added.

Ocalan's statement was read out to reporters in Istanbul by his lawyer Dogan Erbas, who said the PKK leader had dictated it to him on the prison island of Imrali on Monday. Ocalan, under sentence of death for treason, called on the Turkish state to respond to his call and asked foreign countries and international organizations to back his "process of peace and fraternity".

Asked about the implementation of the call, Ocalan's lawyers were unable to provide details. Asked whether Ocalan still had the authority in his organization to order its forces to withdraw or whether he was merely appealing for a withdrawal, lawyer Mahmut Sakar said Ocalan was still chairman of the PKK and recognized as such by its members. (AFP)