U.S. praises latest release of Kurds by Turkish government
07:38 22/10/2009 MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - The United States welcomes recent steps between Turkey and the Kurdish population towards their reconciliation, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State said.
"Well, I think we welcome the most recent steps... taken by Turkey towards ultimate reconciliation between... the Kurdish population and Turkey," Ian Kelly told a daily press briefing in Washington.
According to media reports, eight PKK militants crossed the border from Iraq into Turkey. They were detained by Turkish police and later, after being questioned, were all released.
"And I think we would see this most recent decision by the Turkish Government to allow these Kurds to — or former members of the PKK — to lay down their arms and reintegrate, that this would come in that category of steps that we welcome," he added.
The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and some other countries, including the EU and the United States. It launches attacks on Turkey from bases in northern Iraq and frequently uses remote-controlled mines against the country's security forces, Hurriyet said.
The Kurdish area of southeastern Turkey has seen 25 years of fighting between separatist guerillas and government troops in which an estimated 40,000 people have died.
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