'US putting bounties on PKK positive, belated step'

By Sarp Ozer

SUAKIN ISLAND, Sudan

A U.S. decision to put multi-million dollar bounties on the heads of three key PKK terrorists was a "positive but belated" step, Turkish national defense minister said on Wednesday.

"I would like to underline that this decision and step of the U.S., of our American friends and our allies, was a positive, but belated one," Hulusi Akar told Anadolu Agency during his visit Sudan's Suakin Island on the west coast of the Red Sea.

Akar's remarks came a day after the U.S. State Department put a bounty on three key PKK terrorists.

Under the Rewards for Justice program, people who give information on the identification or location of PKK terrorists Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik, and Duran Kalkan are eligible for rewards of $3-5 million.

Akar said Turkey expects the U.S. to take the same stance against the YPG terrorist group in Syria.

"Because the YPG is a terrorist organization that has no difference from the PKK," he added.

The minister also said Turkey expects from the U.S. not to send weapons and ammunition to the YPG terrorists.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people, including those of women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.