Turkey claims Syrian pledge

Ankara - Turkey said yesterday it had received a written pledge from Syria that it would stop supporting Kurdish rebels, raising…

Ankara - Turkey said yesterday it had received a written pledge from Syria that it would stop supporting Kurdish rebels, raising hopes that a three-week showdown between the two neighbours would end peacefully.

"Damascus has committed itself to no longer allow the PKK rebels and its leader onto its territory," the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr Ismail Cem, said.

Turkey has also accused Syria of harbouring the rebel leader, Mr Abdullah Ocalan, but said it had learned he was now in Moscow and were hoping to have him extradited.