51�Թ�

After 40 years of armed struggle against the Turkish state, the outlawed Kurdish PKK will hold a ceremony on Friday to mark a symbolic first step in laying down its arms.

It then moved away from its separatist goals, focusing instead on more autonomy and greater Kurdish rights.

"However, their profile has changed, the nationalities have changed. We are now seeing far more young Eritreans, Somalis and Sudanese and far fewer Afghan or Kurdish children," he added.

The PKK's announcement that it would stop fighting was seen as a historic moment for Turkey, its Kurdish minority, and neighbouring countries into which the conflict has spilled over.

Kurdish human rights group Hengaw said at least 582 prisoners, including 19 political, religious, and security inmates, had been executed in Iranian prisons so far this year.