US puts huge bounties on top PKK leaders

The US Department of State on Tuesday offered millions of US dollars for information leading to the location or identification of three senior members of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).

The announcement was made by the US embassy in Ankara following a recent visit by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer.

"The United States values its counter-terrorism cooperation with our NATO Ally Turkey. As part of my visit, I am pleased to announce that the US Department of State's Rewards for Justice programme is targeting three senior members of the terrorist organisation Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK)," a statement said.

"The Department has authorised rewards for information leading to the identification or location of the senior PKK members: Murat Karayilan (up to $5 million), Cemil Bayik (up to $4 million), and Duran Kalkan (up to $3 million)."

A separate tweet by the State Department's Rewards for Justice programme said: "REWARD OFFER- PKK key leaders. Provide information and payment may be possible. 100% confidentiality guaranteed. Relocation may be possible."

Karayilan, a co-founder of the PKK, has been the group's acting leader since Abdullah Ocalan was detained by Turkish intelligence forces in 1999.

The PKK has been waging an insurgency in Turkey since 1984, killing more than 40,000 people. Fighting intensified in 2015 after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Ankara and its Western allies.

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