An impassive Abdullah Ocalan looked on from a bullet-proof glass cubicle yesterday as Turkish prosecutors at his trial for treason wrapped up their case by reiterating a demand for the death penalty.
The Kurdish rebel leader was in court on the prison island of Imrali for the sixth day. After closing statements from the prosecution, the trial was adjourned until June 23rd to enable the defence to read thousands of pages of additional documents. A verdict is expected before the end of the month.
A prosecution statement said Mr Ocalan was clearly guilty as charged. It pointed out that the defendant had admitted responsibility for many of the actions of his Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"With the aim of establishing an independent state on Turkish territory, Ocalan formed and led the armed gang . . . which carried out thousands of terrorist attacks, ruthlessly killed tens of thousands of people and left as many disabled," the statement said.
Most of those who died were members of the PKK and their supporters but the Turkish state blames Ocalan for all the deaths on both sides during the 15-year conflict.
The chief prosecutor, Mr Cevdet Volkan, dismissed Mr Ocalan's call for peace as "insincere". He argued that plenty of violence had been carried out in the PKK's name since its leader began advocating a peaceful solution within Turkey's borders several years ago.
Nevertheless, Mr Ocalan's appeal for reconciliation is likely to form the basis of his closing statement. He argues that Turkey cannot solve the Kurdish problem without him. The court has refused permission for the defence to call as witnesses politicians with whom Mr Ocalan said he had been in contact in the past.
The military issued a statement on Monday saying it would never accept the PKK as an interlocutor. The military believes it is winning the war in the mountains and that the PKK is on the verge of collapse.
In turn, the PKK issued a statement warning that killing its leader would be suicide for the Turkish state. It said: "The Kurdish people would then have the legitimate right to struggle in every way to defend their national honour."
If the death penalty is imposed, as expected, it will be up to the politicians to decide whether it is carried out. The ultra-nationalist MHP party, which finished second in April's general election and thinks it knows the popular mood, has said its MPs will vote for execution.
The prime minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit, is a longstanding opponent of capital punishment but it will be difficult to make a case for clemency that convinces many ordinary Turks.
European leaders have warned that hanging Mr Ocalan would have serious consequences for Turkey's troubled relations with the EU.
Turkey has not carried out an execution since 1984, although its laws allow for capital punishment.
The country's embattled police force faced fresh scrutiny yesterday when Ankara's police chief and 10 other senior officers were suspended pending investigation into allegations that state officials, including Mr Ecevit, have had their telephones bugged.
The suspensions follow allegations in the media in recent days. The interior minister, Mr Sadettin Tantan, said the 11 officers had been suspended as a precaution.
Information leaked to the media suggests that police intelligence officers have been tapping telephones belonging to the presidency, the prime minister's office and his private residence, and the military high command. --(Guardian Service)
Turkish security forces have killed 11 Kurdish rebels in fighting in south-eastern Turkey. Seven rebels died in Siirt province, according to the governor's office responsible for the largely Kurdish south-east where the rebels are fighting for self-rule.
Separately, four PKK fighters died in clashes with troops in Tunceli province - a traditional rebel stronghold. Two villagers also died. Governor Mehmet Ali Turker said operations involving US-made Cobra helicopters and 500 troops were still under way in the region.