Photos: Kurdish militants begin withdrawing Turkey for Iraq
May 14, 2013
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters stand at formation in northern Iraq May 14, 2013. The first group of Kurdish militants to withdraw from Turkey under a peace process entered northern Iraq on Tuesday, and were greeted by comrades from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in a symbolic step towards ending a three-decades-old insurgency. The 13 men and women, carrying guns and with rucksacks on their backs, arrived in the area of Heror, near Metina mountain on the Turkish-Iraqi border, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari ( TURKEY-KURDS/IRAQ )
Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) congratulate each other after arriving in the Heror area, northeast of Dahuk, 260 miles (430 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, May 14, 2013. The first of Kurdish fighters from Turkey have entered northern Iraq as part of a peace deal to end a long uprising, despite Iraqi objections to the transfer. Comrades greeted 13 armed men and women from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) at a ceremony in Heror in Iraq's self-ruled Kurdish area. The central government in Baghdad has rejected the deal, warning that the entry of more armed Kurdish fighters could harm the country's security. (AP Photo/ Ceerwan Aziz) ( Mideast Iraq Turkey Kurds )
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters rest around a fire in northern Iraq May 14, 2013. The first group of Kurdish militants to withdraw from Turkey under a peace process entered northern Iraq on Tuesday, and were greeted by comrades from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in a symbolic step towards ending a three-decades-old insurgency. The 13 men and women, carrying guns and with rucksacks on their backs, arrived in the area of Heror, near Metina mountain on the Turkish-Iraqi border, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari ( TURKEY-KURDS/IRAQ )
Dozens of Turks stage a protest outside a hotel hosting a group of journalists, academics and artists who have been appointed by the government to promote a peace process with the Kurdish rebels, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. The rebels of the Kurdistan Workersà Party, or PKK, reaffirmed that it will start withdrawing forces from Turkey to bases in northern Iraq on Wednesday, as part of the peace talks aimed at ending the nearly three-decade-long conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) ( Turkey Kurds )
Riot police confront dozens of Turks who are staging a protest outside a hotel hosting a group of journalists, academics and artists who have been appointed by the government to promote a peace process with the Kurdish PKK rebels, in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. The rebels of the Kurdistan Workersà Party, or PKK, reaffirmed that it will start withdrawing forces from Turkey to bases in northern Iraq on Wednesday, as part of the peace talks aimed at ending the nearly three-decade-long conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) ( Turkey Kurds )
Some thousands of supporters demonstrate waving various PKK flags and posters of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, in southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, Thursday, March 21, 2013, as Ocalan called Thursday for an immediate cease-fire and for thousands of his fighters to withdraw from Turkish territory, a major step toward ending the fighting for self-rule for Kurds in southeastern Turkey, one of the world's bloodiest insurgencies lasting nearly 30-years and costing tens of thousands of lives. (AP Photo) ( Turkey Kurds )
Members of a group of journalists, academics and artists who have been appointed by the government to promote a peace process with the Kurdish rebels, seen during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. The rebels of the Kurdistan Workersà Party, or PKK, reaffirmed that it will start withdrawing forces from Turkey to bases in northern Iraq on Wednesday, as part of the peace talks aimed at ending the nearly three-decade-long conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) ( Turkey Kurds )
Hundreds of people of Kurdish origin demonstrate on January 10, 2013 in central Marseille following the killing of three Kurdish women activists in Paris. A co-founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and two other militants were found shot dead on January 10 in Paris, a day after Turkey and the jailed leader of the banned group were reported to have agreed on a peace plan to end a three-decade-old insurgency. BORIS HORVAT/AFP/Getty Images ( 516362878 )
This photo taken on Tuesday May 7, 2013 and provided by Firat News Agency on Wednesday May 8, 2013 shows rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in Turkey close to the border with Iraq. A Kurdish party leader said Wednesday rebels have started to move out of Turkey to bases in northern Iraq, a key stage in the peace process with the Turkish government. The PKK declared a cease-fire in March and agreed to a gradual retreat from Turkish territory as part of peace efforts aimed at ending a nearly three-decade-old conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. (AP Photo/Firat News Agency) ( Turkey Kurds )
Handout photo taken and obtained on May 9, 2013 from the Firat New Agency shows a fighter of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) standing in an undisclosed mountainous region in Turkey near the border with Iraq. Kurdish rebel leaders have confirmed that their fighters began withdrawing from Turkey into bases in neighbouring Iraq on May 8 and warned Ankara against "provocations and clashes" which could hamper their retreat. There are an estimated 2,000 armed PKK militants inside Turkey and up to 5,000 in northern Iraq, which Kurdish rebels have used as a springboard for attacks targeting Turkish security forces in the southeast. AFP PHOTO / FIRAT NEWS AGENCY ( 519583186 )
Handout photo obtained on May 9, 2013 from the Firat New Agency shows a fighter of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) standing in an undisclosed mountainous region in Turkey near the border with Iraq. Kurdish rebel leaders have confirmed that their fighters began withdrawing from Turkey into bases in neighbouring Iraq on May 8 and warned Ankara against "provocations and clashes" which could hamper their retreat. There are an estimated 2,000 armed PKK militants inside Turkey and up to 5,000 in northern Iraq, which Kurdish rebels have used as a springboard for attacks targeting Turkish security forces in the southeast. AFP PHOTO / FIRAT NEWS AGENCY RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / FIRAT NEWS AGENCY " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS-/AFP/Getty Images ( 519583188 )
Sakine Cansiz (L) is seen with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) chief Abdullah Ocalan in this 1995 file photo. To match Special Report FRANCE-KURDS/ REUTERS/Ihlas News Agency/Files ( FRANCE-KURDS/ )
A file photo taken on August 11, 2005 shows Murat Karayilan, co-leader of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederalism Council (KKK), posing during an interview with AFP in a camp near Arbil in the Sinena mountains, northern Iraq. Kurdish rebels announced on April 25, 2013 that they would begin withdrawing from Turkey on May 5 into their safe haven in northern Iraq amid a peace drive between Ankara and the rebel movement. "As part of ongoing preparations, the withdrawal will begin on May 5, 2013," Murat Karayilan, the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), was quoted as saying by the pro-Kurdish Firat news agency. "The withdrawal is planned in phases ... and is aimed to be finalised as soon as possible." MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty Images ( 519212926 )
File photo of Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), gesturing as he stands in front of a large poster of jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)leader Abdullah Ocalan during a rally in Istanbul March 17, 2013. A top Kurdish politician said April 15, 2013, it would be difficult for Kurdish fighters to disarm before leaving Turkey under a peace process, stressing that the key issue was that they depart peacefully without contact with the Turkish military. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government is seeking a weapons-free pullout by militants of the PKK as part of a drive to end a three-decades long conflict which has killed more than 40,000 people. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/Files ( TURKEY-KURDS/OCALAN )
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters walk on the way to their new base in northern Iraq May 14, 2013. The first group of Kurdish militants to withdraw from Turkey under a peace process entered northern Iraq on Tuesday, and were greeted by comrades from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in a symbolic step towards ending a three-decades-old insurgency. The 13 men and women, carrying guns and with rucksacks on their backs, arrived in the area of Heror, near Metina mountain on the Turkish-Iraqi border, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari ( TURKEY-KURDS/IRAQ )
A member of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) works on her laptop in northern Iraq May 14, 2013. The first group of Kurdish militants to withdraw from Turkey under a peace process entered northern Iraq on Tuesday, and were greeted by comrades from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in a symbolic step towards ending a three-decades-old insurgency. The 13 men and women, carrying guns and with rucksacks on their backs, arrived in the area of Heror, near Metina mountain on the Turkish-Iraqi border, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari ( TURKEY-KURDS/IRAQ )
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters stand at formation in northern Iraq May 14, 2013. The first group of Kurdish militants to withdraw from Turkey under a peace process entered northern Iraq on Tuesday, and were greeted by comrades from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in a symbolic step towards ending a three-decades-old insurgency. The 13 men and women, carrying guns and with rucksacks on their backs, arrived in the area of Heror, near Metina mountain on the Turkish-Iraqi border, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari ( TURKEY-KURDS/IRAQ )
This handout photo obtained on May 9, 2013 from the Firat New Agency shows fighters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) resting in an undisclosed mountainous region in Turkey near the border with Iraq. Kurdish rebel leaders have confirmed that their fighters began withdrawing from Turkey into bases in neighbouring Iraq on May 8 and warned Ankara against "provocations and clashes" which could hamper their retreat. There are an estimated 2,000 armed PKK militants inside Turkey and up to 5,000 in northern Iraq, which Kurdish rebels have used as a springboard for attacks targeting Turkish security forces in the southeast. AFP PHOTO / FIRAT NEWS AGENCY ( 519589698 )
Handout photo obtained on May 9, 2013 from the Firat New Agency shows a fighter of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) walking in an undisclosed mountainous region in Turkey near the border with Iraq. Kurdish rebel leaders have confirmed that their fighters began withdrawing from Turkey into bases in neighbouring Iraq on May 8 and warned Ankara against "provocations and clashes" which could hamper their retreat. There are an estimated 2,000 armed PKK militants inside Turkey and up to 5,000 in northern Iraq, which Kurdish rebels have used as a springboard for attacks targeting Turkish security forces in the southeast. AFP PHOTO / FIRAT NEWS AGENCY ( 519583190 )
Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) congratulate each other after arriving in the Heror area, northeast of Dahuk, 260 miles (430 kilometers) northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, May 14, 2013. The first of Kurdish fighters from Turkey have entered northern Iraq as part of a peace deal to end a long uprising, despite Iraqi objections to the transfer. Comrades greeted 13 armed men and women from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) at a ceremony in Heror in Iraq's self-ruled Kurdish area. The central government in Baghdad has rejected the deal, warning that the entry of more armed Kurdish fighters could harm the country's security. (AP Photo/ Ceerwan Aziz) ( Mideast Iraq Turkey Kurds )
Turkish nationalists surrounded by Turkish riot police hold a portrait of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and wave flags during a protest against the Turkish government peace plan with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on April 20, 2013 on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul. Turkish interior minister Muammer Guler announced on April 18 an increase in the violence between student groups which he said appeared to be linked to the ongoing peace process between Ankara and the Kurdish rebels. BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images ( 519079516 )
A Turkish nationalist surrounded by Turkish riot police waves the national flag of Turkey during a protest against the Turkish government peace plan with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on April 20, 2013 on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul. Turkish interior minister Muammer Guler announced on April 18 an increase in the violence between student groups which he said appeared to be linked to the ongoing peace process between Ankara and the Kurdish rebels. BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images ( 519079566 )
Turkish riot policemen block Istiklal Avenue as Turkish nationalists protest against the Turkish government's policys on May 3, 2013, on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul. Such recent incidents come as Ankara and the rebel leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are negotiating steps to a permanent peace that would end the outlawed PKK's insurgency, which in almost three decades has killed 45,000 people. OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images ( 519443400 )
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