Deputy PM: Turkey will continue strong fighting against terrorism

Azerbaijan, Baku, September 9 /Trend, A. Taghiyeva/

Turkey intends to continue its strong fight against terrorism without consideration of the terrorists' position on the refusal of armed struggle, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said today, Anadolu agency reported.

"Turkey has an alternative in the fight against terror," he added. "If the militants of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party abandon the truce, then they themselves will suffer."

Militants of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) have suspended the process of withdrawal from Turkey's territory and those who have already left Turkey will return, some Turkish media outlets reported today.

Previously, imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan urged members of the organization to lay down their arms and leave Turkey.

Turkish authorities promised to create conditions for a safe withdrawal of all PKK militants who surrendered.

PKK militants began to leave Turkey on May 8.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 25 years and has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the European Union.