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DATE=2/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245598
TITLE=OCALAN WRAP (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE ARREST OF KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN 
HAS UNLEASHED A WAVE OF DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS EUROPE.   V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS MANY OF THE 
DEMONSTRATIONS TURNED VIOLENT AS HIS SUPPORTERS PROTESTED GREEK 
LINKS TO MR. OCALAN'S ARREST IN KENYA AND HIS RETURN TO TURKEY 
FOR TRIAL. 
TEXT:  THE KURDISH DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE GREEK EMBASSY IN 
LONDON STARTED PEACEFULLY.  BUT THE NUMBER OF KURDS GATHERED 
THERE MULTIPLIED THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND SCUFFLES WITH POLICE 
ERUPTED.  
ONE DEMONSTRATOR SET HERSELF ON FIRE, A SCENE THAT WAS REPEATED 
IN COPENHAGEN.  ELSEWHERE, KURDISH PROTESTERS DOUSED THEMSELVES 
WITH GASOLINE AND THREATENED MASS SUICIDES. 
POLICE HAVE FORCIBLY REMOVED KURDISH PROTESTERS FROM INSIDE GREEK
MISSIONS IN SEVERAL CITIES -- INCLUDING PARIS, STRASBOURG, 
MARSEILLES, AND STUTTGART.  POLICE USED TEAR GAS AND WATER 
CANNONS TO DISBURSE KURDISH PROTESTERS IN FRANKFURT AND HAMBURG.
TURKISH KURDS ARE PROTESTING THE ARREST IN KENYA OF SEPARATIST 
LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN.  HE WAS RETURNED BEFORE DAWN ON TUESDAY 
TO TURKEY, WHERE HE FACES TERRORIST CHARGES THAT CARRY THE DEATH 
PENALTY.
SINCE 1984, THE KURDISH SEPARATIST LEADER HAS WAGED A MILITARY 
CAMPAIGN TO SET UP A SEPARATE KURDISH STATE IN SOUTHEASTERN 
TURKEY.  THE CONFLICT HAS CLAIMED AN ESTIMATED 30-THOUSAND 
VICTIMS.
TURKS ARE CELEBRATING THE CAPTURE OF THE KURDISH SEPARATIST 
LEADER.  BUT KURDS WARN THERE WILL BE MORE VIOLENCE IF MR. OCALAN
IS  NOT  FREED.  SOME PREDICT THE VIOLENCE WILL SPREAD BEYOND 
TURKEY'S BORDERS.  
KURDISH ANGER NOW IS DIRECTED AT GREECE BECAUSE  OF  REPORTS THE 
GREEK EMBASSY IN KENYA, WHICH WAS HARBORING MR. OCALAN, LET HIM 
BE TRANSFERRED TO TURKEY.  KURDISH PROTESTERS ALSO ACCUSE THE 
UNITED STATES OF A HAND IN MR. OCALAN'S CAPTURE, A CHARGE 
WASHINGTON DENIES. 
SOME KURDS ALSO CRITICIZE EUROPEAN NATIONS FOR ABANDONING THE 
KURDISH LEADER.  LAST MONTH, MR. OCALAN WAS FORCED TO LEAVE ITALY
AFTER ROME REFUSED TO GRANT HIM POLITICAL ASYLUM.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/LKM/JWH/JO
16-Feb-99 2:25 PM EST (1925 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.