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DATE=11/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241681
TITLE=ITALY-KURDS (LONG ONLY)
BYLINE=SABINA CASTELFRANCO
DATELINE=ROME 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THE LEADER OF TURKEY'S OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, 
ABDULLAH OCALAN, REQUESTED POLITICAL ASYLUM IN ITALY SATURDAY AS 
HUNDREDS OF KURDISH SUPPORTERS DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE THE ROME 
MILITARY HOSPITAL WHERE HE IS BEING HELD.  AS  SABINA 
CASTELFRANCO REPORTS FROM ROME, THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER HAS ALSO
BEGUN A HUNGER STRIKE.
TEXT:  ITALIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE KURDISH LEADER WAS ARRESTED AT 
ROME AIRPORT AS HE ATTEMPTED TO WALK THROUGH PASSPORT CONTROL ON 
A FALSE PASSPORT.  HE HAD FLOWN INTO ROME FROM MOSCOW AND 
APPEARED TO BE NO MORE THAN AN ORDINARY BUSINESSMAN.  
BUT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY SAID IN ROME 
SATURDAY THAT THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT KNEW IN ADVANCE OF MR. 
OCALAN'S ARRIVAL.  HE SAID THE REBEL LEADER HAD TURNED HIMSELF IN
OF HIS OWN FREE WILL AND REQUESTED POLITICAL ASYLUM.  OTHER 
KURDISH SOURCES SAID MR. OCALAN'S DECISION TO SURRENDER WAS PART 
OF A CAMPAIGN TO TURN WORLD ATTENTION TO THE PLIGHT OF KURDS. 
ABDULLAH OCALAN IS DESCRIBED BY TURKEY AS ITS MOST WANTED 
TERRORIST.  ANKARA HAS ALREADY APPLIED FOR HIS EXTRADITION FROM 
ITALY.  BUT THAT IS NOW LIKELY TO BE BLOCKED BY THE KURDISH 
LEADER'S REQUEST FOR ASYLUM.  IN ADDITION, THE ITALIAN 
CONSTITUTION FORBIDS EXTRADITION TO COUNTRIES, LIKE TURKEY, WHERE
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS STILL IN FORCE. 
OUTSIDE THE ROME MILITARY HOSPITAL WHERE HE IS BEING HELD, 
HUNDREDS OF KURDISH SUPPORTERS GATHERED IN HEAVY RAIN, AS ONE OF 
THEM SAID, "TO GREET OUR PRESIDENT, NOT TO PROTEST AGAINST THE 
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT."  THEY CRIED OUT THEIR LEADER'S NAME, USING 
HIS NICKNAME "APO," WHICH MEANS UNCLE IN THEIR LANGUAGE.  A GROUP
OF WOMEN DANCED AND SANG TRADITIONAL KURDISH SONGS. 
THEIR SPOKESMAN SAID MANY MORE KURDS AND SUPPORTERS OF THEIR 
CAUSE ARE TRAVELLING TO ITALY FROM ALL OVER EUROPE TO TAKE PART 
IN FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS SUNDAY. 
ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS LED THE ARMED REVOLT AGAINST THE TURKISH 
GOVERNMENT SINCE 1984 WITH THE AIM OF ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT
KURDISH STATE IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY. (SIGNED)
NEB/SC/DW/GE
14-Nov-98 1:59 PM EST (1859 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.