World News

Erdogan: No house arrest for Ocalan

Published: Jan. 11, 2013 at 9:20 AM

DAKAR, Senegal, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he will not reduce Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan's life sentence in prison to house arrest.

"House arrest for Ocalan is not a question," Erdogan told a news conference Thursday in Senegal. "Everything is so clear on this subject."

Ocalan was captured in 1999 and sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted when Turkey abolished the death penalty and he was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. He was the sole prisoner on Imrali island from 1999 to 2009.

Discussions between state officials and Ocalan to broker a deal for disarming the PKK have been continuing even though Erdogan said he opposes Ocalan being placed under house arrest and granting general amnesty for terrorists, which are among the talking points, Sunday's Zaman reported.

Erdogan has allowed a radio in Ocalan's cell to be replaced with a television set, Hurriyet reported Monday.

Topics: Abdullah Ocalan, Tayyip Erdogan

© 2013 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints

Most Popular Collections

'Star Trek Into Darkness' screening	NBC upfronts	Met Ball 2013
'Great Gatsby' premieres in New York	Spire raised on top of One WTC	2013: Celebrity break ups and divorces

Additional World News Stories
Top News Tucson shooting photos of crime scene, evidence released TUCSON, May 22 (UPI) -- The Pima County Sheriff's Department released 580 photos of the Tucson crime scene where six people died and then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was among the wounded. Jodi Arias says she's ready to meet her maker if sentenced to death 30 cars set ablaze in third night of rioting in Stockholm Commentary: Israel: Crises 360 degrees Moore mayor calls for all new homes to have storm shelters	Entertainment News Ex says O.J. Simpson was obsessed with former spouse Nicole NEW YORK, May 22 (UPI) -- O.J. Simpson's ex-girlfriend, Christie Prody, says the jailed football star was obsessed with his late ex-wife, Nicole Brown. Singer Chris Brown is uninjured in car crash Jesse James posts photo of his severed finger on Instagram Josh Holloway says he would love to play Han Solo Emile Hirsch and Holliday Grainger play Bonnie and Clyde in miniseries
Business News U.S. senators hear mixed assessment of shale WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- Maintaining a flat level of natural gas production from U.S. shale deposits is an elusive prospect, an energy policy director told U.S. lawmakers. Obama threatens Keystone XL veto More to U.S. oil than North Dakota, EIA says Canada's west coast readies for LNG exports Crude oil steady under $96	Odd News Your Daily Horoscope UPI horoscopes for Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Man finds 1938 Superman comic in wall of house The almanac Teacher suspended for sleeping during class Seniors decorate sailboat for positive prank