Sezer Approves Rebel Amnesty

The government has estimated that about half of the estimated 4,500 Kurdish rebels would seek such amnesty.

The United States encouraged the bill, saying it would help bring stability to Iraq and the region.

Kurdish rebels fought a 15-year war with the Turkish army in a bid for regional autonomy for southeastern Turkey. The fighting has died down since the rebels declared a unilateral cease-fire in 1999. But sporadic clashes continue and some 37,000 people have died as a result of the fighting.

The amnesty will go into effect after being published in Turkey’s official gazette, expected in the coming days.

The amnesty drew opposition in Turkey, with groups representing families of soldiers killed in the fighting vehemently opposed and pro-Kurdish groups demanding that it include rebel leaders.

The amnesty targets Kurdish rebels, but members of other illegal leftist or radical Muslim organizations can also take advantage of the law.