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DATE=11/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241803
TITLE=RUSSIA / KURDS  (L ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  TWO KURDISH MEN HAVE SET THEMSELVES ON FIRE OUTSIDE 
RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT BUILDING TO PROTEST THE ARREST LAST WEEK 
(THURSDAY) OF A KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER.  VOA MOSCOW 
CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS ONE OF THE MEN IS IN 
CRITICAL CONDITION.
TEXT:  POLICE SAY THE TWO PROTESTERS UNFURLED A BANNER IN FRONT 
OF THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN CENTRAL MOSCOW EARLY TUESDAY, THEN 
DOUSED THEMSELVES WITH GASOLINE AND STRUCK A MATCH. 
POLICE QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND RUSHED BOTH MEN TO A 
LOCAL HOSPITAL. 
A STATEMENT FAXED TO NEWS AGENCIES SAID THE TWO MEN LEFT A LETTER
CLAIMING THEIR ACT WAS TO PROTEST AN INTERNATIONAL CONSPIRACY 
AGAINST KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN.  MR. OCALAN WAS 
ARRESTED AT A ROME AIRPORT AS HE STEPPED OFF A PLANE FROM MOSCOW.
MR. OCALAN, FOUNDER OF THE KURDISH WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K, HAS 
SPEARHEADED A LENGTHY KURDISH SEPARATIST CAMPAIGN AGAINST TURKEY 
IN WHICH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. TURKEY 
REGARDS HIM AS A TERRORIST, AND HAS FILED CHARGES AGAINST HIM 
THAT CARRY THE DEATH PENALTY UNDER TURKISH LAW.
THE KURDISH LEADER HAD OPERATED FOR SOME TIME FROM A BASE IN 
SYRIA, BUT RECENTLY SYRIAN AUTHORITIES FORCED HIM OUT IN THE FACE
OF FIERCE TURKISH PRESSURE.  HE FLED TO RUSSIA, WHERE HE WAS 
DENIED ASYLUM, THEN FLEW TO ROME, WHERE HE WAS ARRESTED.
// REST OPT // TURKEY HAS BEEN PRESSURING ITALIAN AUTHORITIES TO 
HAND OVER MR. OCALAN, BUT ITALY DOES  NOT  EXTRADITE SUSPECTS TO 
COUNTRIES WITH THE DEATH PENALTY.  THE REBEL LEADER HAS APPLIED 
FOR ASYLUM IN ITALY, EVEN AS TURKEY MOVED QUICKLY TO AMEND ITS 
LAWS TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY.
MR. OCALAN'S ARREST HAS TRIGGERED DEMONSTRATIONS IN SEVERAL 
CITIES, INCLUDING A HUNGER STRIKE IN MOSCOW BY ABOUT 100 P-K-K 
SUPPORTERS.  A KURDISH COMMUNITY SPOKESMAN ESTIMATES 150-THOUSAND
KURDS LIVE IN MOSCOW, AND A TOTAL OF NEARLY ONE-MILLION IN THE 
COUNTRIES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF/KL
17-Nov-98 9:52 AM EST (1452 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.