Ankara halts PKK returns

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Turkish leaders announced they were reconsidering the way forward on a Kurdish initiative following the return of rebels from their camps in northern Iraq.

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, earlier this month called on his supporters to form "peace groups" who would hand themselves over to Turkish officials at border points.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during the weekend it was time to reassess the situation following mixed reactions to the receptions welcoming the PKK members, Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper reports.

PKK leaders decided to halt the returns. Ankara, for its part, said it would delay a move to return as many as 28 PKK members from European countries scheduled for Wednesday.

"Let's take a break," said Erdogan. "We will continue the process after reviewing the situation."

Erdogan, meanwhile, blamed pro-Kurdish leaders with the Democratic Society Party for planning dissent and called for responsible action as Ankara considers the Kurdish measure.

Ankara is considering a variety of concessions for the Kurdish minority, including agreements regarding the Kurdish language and other cultural considerations. Turkey has struggled for decades with the PKK separatist movement.

The United States and other nations list the PKK as a terrorist organization for its guerrilla and narcotics activity in the region. Despite the label, Washington views the returns as part of a broader reconciliation process.