PKK says it does not support Kurdish state in Iraq

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ANKARA, Turkey, April 27 (UPI) -- Murat Karayilan, head of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party armed wing, said the group will not support an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq.

Karayilan made the announcement from the Kandil Mountains -- a PKK stronghold in northern Iraq, Today's Zaman reported Friday.

He said the PKK would not object to an independent Kurdish state in Iraq, but that the organization would not support the state either.

The announcement came just days after the PKK said it planned to withdraw all of its militants from Turkey starting May 8.

The withdrawal is part of a settlement process reached between Turkish officials and PKK officials.

Meanwhile, the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party said it plans to hold meetings in 45 provinces across Turkey to explain the settlement process to local residents, Today's Zaman said.

"The focus of the meetings will be to urge the public to get actively involved in this big freedom movement," the party said in a statement.