rex the message from the imprisoned leader of the pkk calling for a cease-fire and calling on pkk fighters in turkey to with draw. he is also saying that the time is for these and for guns to full-sized and. to fall silent. agreedactly has been with the turkish government, we do not know what the turkish government will give the kurds in return. we do understand from reports, from unconfirmed reports that they will give the kurds and their rights and insure the mini constitution like i said, we still do not have details. , the leader of the tradition movement, is now seen as a peacemaker. what you see behind me as an endorsement of the call. if this was a referendum, this is an overwhelming yes. talk to people here and they say, yes, we want peace. want the conflict to end. some say really that is one of the reasons why both sides have come together to end this military stalemate. there are politics involved. the ruling party, if they get the kurdish parties on their side, they will be able to amend ie constitution to allow the minister to run for presidency next year. the turks are really

a leader of the pkk began negotiating an end to the 29- year-old conflict in october. spokesman for the pkk said their release could support a final peace deal. >> we believe that releasing these hostages will help the democratic peace process. the turkish people and the families of hostages should respect our leaders' initiative. they should support a democratic peace process. this is what we expect from a turkish society. >> here is why the pkk has been in conflict with turkey. the group was formed in the 1970's. began a violent rebellion against the turkish government in 1984. its main aim was born independent kurdish state within turkey. a separate set back in 1999 when their leader was arrested and jailed for treason. let's hear from our correspondent with more from the turkish border. of goodwill.sture but they're getting in return remains a secret. talks of the negotiations with the sale leader remains a secret. there's been speculation with regard to what the kurds really want. some of them are suggesting that there should be a new constitution, a turkish admit

the pkk has used terrorist tactics in the past. from the time he was arrested, the terrorist attacks became less frequent, but the rebels never completely laid down their arms. many ordinary turks greeted the announcement with caution. >> i do not think he can exercise enough power from prison to persuade others. i doubt they will heed his words and renounce violence. >> but in the absence of any available alternative, but turks and kurds can only hope that the violent conflict will soon come to an end. >> for the latest, we are joined on the line from istanbul. how did this cease-fire, about? >> it seems to be a coinciding of interests. the prime minister also seems to be ready to talk about the conflict. he has been in jail for 14 years. the conflict has reached a virtual standstill. at the same time, the government realized that they also were unlikely to score a military victory. across egypt, there is a defacto turkish state. syrian kurds are also taking large part -- control of large parts of syrian territory. there is pressu

the turkish member of parliament said they visited with the pkk leader in prison. the conflict has been going on for nearly three decades now. for more, we are joined by dorian jones following the talks in istanbul. what is behind the pending cease-fire? why is it coming right now? >> this has been since last october. they have been meeting with the pkk leader and the secret talks with jolie came to light earlier this year are already bearing fruit. they released eight turkish captives and now there is expected to be this announced and there was also expectation that they will be withdrawing some of their forces from turkey within the coming months. this is a key conditions for negotiations and an expected to meet some of the kurdish demands which includes autonomy and greater cultural rights. >> it is the pending ceasefire. can you tell us how this fits in with the fighting in neighboring senior -- syria? >> they have been under control by the syrian kurds. the syrian kurds are getting a stronger and the turkish border is already a defacto kurdish state. this is t

the head of the kurdish militant group, the pkk, called for peace with turkey. he is in a turkish jail, but his statement was read out to supporters. >> we are at the point where weapons should be silenced, and ideas should be spoken. a new era has begun. >> he called for his fighters to pull out of turkey. he has been engaged in months for talks -- four months in talks with the turkish government. >> i think this is a very positive approach. it is a very positive appeal. what is most important is how far this will be of limited -- implement it. >> -- implemented. >> if it holds, it will mean the end to 30 years of fighting. >> lebanon's government decided to step down after a standoff with hezbollah. the prime minister had been in office for over two years. hezbollah had helped put him in office, but they fell out over domestic issues. there were also tensions over neighboring syria. hezbollah strongly backs president bashar al-assad. >> on friday, cyprus was still trying to find a way out of its financial crisis. the finance minister had tried russia, travelin

before his capture in 1999, he led pkk fighters in the field. now he has ordered them to give up their positions and turkey and withdraw to the main banks across the border, the mountains of northern iraq. but it is not yet clear when the withdrawal may begin. invitation as a positive development. what really matters is implementing the call. what happens in the implementation is very important. beendullah ocalan has now imprisoned almost half the land of the entire kurdish conflict. his supporters will hold the announcement becomes his defining move, that three decades of unrest did not end with a simple declaration. >>> you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come, a new map is making scientists rethink just how old the universe really is. left nine people dead, almost 300 injured in south china. it was the strongest tornado to hit the area since records have been held. we have the details. 100inds of more than m.p.h., lashing down on the city. largeones the size of eggs battered the area, damaging or destroying buildings and cars.