Speaking to the BBC, Murat Karayilan said he would order his fighters to lay down their weapons, under the supervision of the United Nations, if Turkey agreed to a ceasefire and met certain conditions. His demands, he said, included an end to attacks on Kurdish civilians and arrests of Kurdish politicians in eastern Turkey.

"If the Kurdish issue is resolved in a democratic way through dialogue we will lay down our weapons, yes. We will not carry arms," he said. Karayilan, "If the Turkish government refuses to accept that, we will have to announce independence."

ANF NEWS AGENCY