“Freedom for the leader" marchers reached the Aligör neighbourhood of Suruç yesterday, after starting the march from the city of Urfa.

Hundreds of marchers who left Urfa to march to the village of Amara, the birthplace of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, reached the Aligör neighbourhood of Suruç yesterday evening after a 45-kilometre march, where they were welcomed by thousands of people chanting: "Long live President Apo".

The marchers carried pictures of Öcalan and of Mahsum Karaoğlan, who was killed by soldiers in 2009 in Amara. The marchers and the welcoming throng went to a concert area behind the old municipal building, where the marchers rested on the grass. Thousands of people celebrated Öcalan's birthday, while fireworks were let off.

DBP provincial co-chair İsmail Kaplan thanked the marchers for their efforts, saying the march would continue this morning and that the marchers would march day and night to get to the village of Amara, the birthplace of Öcalan. The marchers are expected to continue the march this morning.