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First PKK Fighters From Turkey Arrive In Iraq


Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members stand at attention after arriving in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk on May 14.
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members stand at attention after arriving in the northern Iraqi city of Dohuk on May 14.
The first contingent of Kurdish rebels leaving Turkey as part of a peace deal with Ankara has arrived in the Harur area of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The small group of armed fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) arrived early on May 14 and were greeted by PKK members based in Iraq.

The PKK has fought a 29-year nationalist campaign against Ankara in which some 45,000 people have died, but is now withdrawing its fighters from Turkey into Iraq under an agreement with Turkish authorities.

In March, jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for a cease-fire and pullout of the estimated 2,000 PKK fighters in Turkey.

They are traveling on foot through the rugged mountains of the border zone to reach their safe havens in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

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