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Kurdish Rebels Reportedly Declare Ceasefire in Turkey

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A Kurdish news agency in Turkey says separatist rebels have declared a unilateral ceasefire beginning Sunday in fighting with government forces.

The Firat agency reports that fighters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (or PKK) say they will not use weapons unless attacked by Turkey's army.

Earlier this week, jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan urged fighters to agree to a ceasefire in an effort to find a peaceful and democratic solution.

But Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected the call, saying a ceasefire can only be reached between two states. He urged rebels to lay down their weapons and end a 22-year separatist conflict.

Turkey's government has ignored earlier ceasefires by Kurdish rebels. Security forces have been battling rebels in eastern Turkey since the start of the separatist movement in 1984.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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