ISTANBUL — Kurdish militants demanded concrete steps from Turkey to advance a fragile peace process on Tuesday, accusing the ruling AK Party of stalling and warning that the negotiations could break down. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu responded with a call for the rebels to declare they have renounced armed struggle — a key government demand to advance talks before a June general election. There has been speculation in recent weeks that jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan would call an end to a conflict which has killed 40,000 people over three decades and stunted development in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast. But his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said on Tuesday that the AK Party was creating "false perceptions" and needed to show it was sincere. "Concrete steps should be taken by the AK Party. Otherwise the peace process is at a very critical and dangerous stage, and near ending," it said in a statement. The government launched talks with Ocalan, who is in jail on an island near Istanbul, in 2012. Ocalan subsequently declared a ceasefire by the PKK, designated a terrorist group by Ankara, the United States and European Union, and its fighters began withdrawing to camps in northern Iraq where it is based. Those involved in the talks remain tight-lipped on details, fearful of undermining prospects of a final deal. Kurds have been pushing for Ocalan's release, an amnesty for fighters and steps towards autonomy. Failure to strike a deal could cause problems for President Tayyip Erdogan, who needs the AK Party he founded to secure a large majority in a national election in June to push through plans for an executive presidency. Davutoglu said the process was at a critical stage and those involved should be more careful about their words and deeds. "We all have the right to expect a declaration that armed struggle has been renounced," he told reporters during a visit to Pakistan, in comments broadcast live on Turkish television. Thousands of Kurds rallied in towns across the southeast on Sunday, the 16th anniversary of Ocalan's capture, some clashing with riot police as they called for his release. Some close to the peace process have said unrest in the southeast suggests the PKK is flexing its muscles as it looks to stamp its authority on the mainly Kurdish region. — Reuters
