Turkey's parliament has taken a major step toward ending four decades of conflict with the PKK. The new law sets out how some militants can return to civilian life, but leaves Abdullah Ocalan's future unresolved.
Turkey's parliament on Monday approved legislation offering a conditional pardon and legal protections to thousands of members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
After around 12 hours of debate, lawmakers voted 468 to 88 in favor of the 12-article bill, with six abstentions. It was backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, its nationalist MHP allies and the pro-Kurdish DEM party.
The law sets out procedures for the PKK's disarmament and dissolution and the reintegration of some members into civilian life. The government has stressed that it is not a general amnesty.
Some prison sentences would be suspended, while investigations and trials could be postponed for five or 10 years depending on the offense.
