Ocalan posturing on PKK reconciliation

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party is making a political move to sideline his rivals with so-called peace groups, a former rebel leader said.

Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, called on his members to form peace groups who would surrender to Turkish authorities as part of a broader reconciliation effort.

Ankara is looking for political solutions for its lingering conflict with the Kurdish minority. Sukru Gulmus, a former PKK leader exiled in Germany, says Ocalan is attempting to put himself at the center of the reconciliation effort, Turkey's Today's Zaman reports.

Gulmus accuses Ocalan of political posturing in an effort to undermine the position of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, with the ultimate aim of establishing his own party.

"In this way, he will eliminate his opponents from the party organization," he continued. "This will result in the elimination of the DTP members from the party who do not want a solution to the Kurdish problem to come from Ocalan."

The DTP drew criticism for its jubilant response to returning PKK members, prompting Ankara to halt the program.