- ANKARA, Turkey: A pro-Kurdish news agency says the imprisoned leader of Turkey’s Kurdish rebel group has warned his forces will unleash a “big war” after national elections if Turkey refuses to negotiate to end the decades-old conflict.
The Firat news agency reported Friday on its website that Abdullah Ocalan warned through his lawyers that if a responsible negotiation process does not start after June 15, “doomsday comes.” Turkey holds elections on June 12 and final results are expected to be clear within a few days.
Turkey’s prime minister says a Kurdish rebel group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on his party’s election convoy in northern Turkey.

