Thousands of people gathered in Paris where a rally has been organized to mark the anniversary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s departure from Syria in 1999, following pressure coming from Turkey.

Place d'Italie is the square where the march, leaving from Denfert-Rochereau - has ended.

At least 15 thousand people took part in the march, say organizers. KONGRA-GEL president, and former MP Remzi Kartal made the main speech remembering the conspiracy which led to Öcalan being forced to leave Syria and subsequently being captured in Kenya.

The meeting as well as asking for the freedom of Öcalan and the end to military operations will be also protest against the new deal signed by French Interior Minister Claude Gueant. Gueant arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara on a two-day visit on Thursday.

Gueant met Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay and European Union (EU) Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis on Thursday.

The French minister met Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin on Friday.

Gueant has signed a counter-terrorism agreement during his visit to Turkey. Under the agreement it is understood that Turkey can ask France to extradite some top members of the PKK who are being tried in this country.

France is staging intense operations against the PKK in for the last two years.

The Paris Court has recently tried 18 people. The prosecutor's office demanded prison terms ranging between six months and six years for the suspects.

The court will make its verdict on the case on November 2.