PKK surrenders rise, Turkey says

ANKARA, Turkey, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- More than 100 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, surrendered to the Turkish forces so far this year, military numbers show.

The separatist PKK aims to create a Kurdish state in Turkey. It is listed as terrorist organization by several nations for its guerrilla activity and ties to narcotics trafficking.

The PKK fought the Turkish military for years, though it declared a unilateral cease-fire in March. Analysts note the number of PKK members surrendering to Turkish authorities rose in the wake of the cease-fire.

From January to October, authorities in Turkey have captured or killed around 140 PKK fighters, Turkey's Today's Zaman reports.

The number of PKK insurgents who surrendered includes members of so-called peace groups who turned themselves into authorities in October.

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, called for the peace groups as part of a reconciliation effort with Ankara. The Turkish government, for its part, outlined the provisions of a series of cultural concessions to find a political solution to the so-called Kurdish question.

Ankara halted additional PKK returns from Europe, however, following criticism of the welcome given by pro-Kurdish political groups in Turkey.