Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Baszn Özeti
Other government members declined to comment on Sakik's capture. Detense Mimster Ismet
Sezgin said after leaving Monday's Cabinet meeting that he was briefly informed by the wire
services and later by the military about the capture but avoided commenting on the issue. Also,
Interior Minister Murat Basesgioglu said Sakik's capture was a matter out of his jurisdiction.
Semdin Sakik, a leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) who has been at odds
with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, was captured along with ,his brother by a Turkish special
forces unit as they were leaving a house near Dohuk. The special teams flew by helicopter into
the city of Dohuk, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) south of the Turkish border, and caught
Semdin Sakik and his brother, according to military sources. Sakik is currently being
questioned in Diyarbakir and reportedly said in his first testimony that Ocalan's attitude of
encouraging PKK members to fight against other Kurdish groups in northern Iraq has
accelerated the unraveling of the terrorist group.
Sakik was the PKK official responsible for operations against Turkish government forces inside
Turkey. He had reportedly surrendered to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) last month.
However, recentreports said that he actually was flirting with joining the Vejin group, an
opposition group to the PKK in the area which is believed to.be under the control of the KDP.
Yilmaz told reporters that Turkey had previously requested Sakik's extradition, in
contradiction to a statement by KDP leader Massoud Barzani that Turkey had not done so. He
also said that Sakik would be tried for his actions.
Earlier, sources had claimed that Sakik would remain in KDP custody, adding that Turkey's
choice would be' to keep Sakik in northern Iraq under KDP control as an alternative force
against Ocalan in àn effort to further split the illegal separatist organization.
Sakik's surrender has been called a major blow to the PKK and is expected to divide the
organization into two factions. Sakik's defection from the terrorist group came after PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan had ordered the execution of 18 terrorists known for being close to Sakik,
reports said.
Meanwhile, Cemil Bayik, another key figure in the PKK, also recently fell out with PKK leader
Ocalan and left the organization.
'
Worsening ties between the Abdullah Ocalan and Sakik, which signalled a possible split inside
the organization, had been previously reported by the Turkish Daily News. Sakik has been.
accused in the killing of 33 unarmed soldiers, breaking a PKK-declared cease-fire in 1993 and
sparking an eventual rift with PKK leader Ocalan .
.Rebel Commander Seized
.By Turks in Northern Iraq
ANKARA - Turkish special forces captured
a senior commander of rebel Kurds in
Turkey in northern Iraq and brought him back
to Turkey, the Anatolian News Agency said'
Monday.
The Turks landed by helicopter in D'hok,
about 50 kilometers south of the Turkish border, .
and captured the commander, Semdin Sakik;
and his brother as they were leaving a house, th~'.
agency said, quoting NTV television.
. Mr. Sa,kiktook refuge with an Iraqi Kurdish
group last month, reportedly after falling out
with the leader of the Kurdish Workers Party,.
Abdullah Ocalan.
(AP)
Iran Offreial Supports Mayor
TEHRAN - Interior Minister Abdollah Nouri has
called for a referendum to resolve a dispute over the
an:est ,of Tehran's mayor, Gholam-Hossem Karbas-
Chi,and has announced the creation of a center for his
defense, the Iran Daily reported Sunday.
Mr. Karbaschi has been charged by the conservll:ti~e-Iedjudiciary
wi~ embezzlement, misappropnation
of funds andmIsmanagement.
Mr. Nouri's moves were the latest sign of support
for Mr. Karbaschi, a close ally of President Mohammed
Kha~'s. Mr. Karbaschi's arrest April4
has, :b~ought mto the open a clash between conservatives
and moderates that has been brewing since
Mr. Khatami's election last year. . (Reuters)
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