(29 Jun 1999) English/Nat
Philippa Meagher
Turkish police took precautions against possible attacks at embassies, airports and tourist resorts on Tuesday after a death sentence was imposed on the Kurdish guerrilla leader Abdullah Ocalan.
A Turkish court sentenced Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan to death on Tuesday on charges of treason for leading a 15-year fight for Kurdish autonomy in southeast Turkey.
VOICE-OVER:
00:02
The sentence was not unexpected, but the verdict still shocked.
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan was handed the death penalty on Tuesday.
00:12
Ocalan tried to read a statement at the end of his trial, but Turkish television refused to broadcast his words.
Its now up to Turkey's parliament to decide whether he will be hanged for treason.
00:21
Ocalan has warned of more bloodshed if he is executed, but in Turkey there is overwhelming support for his death.
Turks hold the P-K-K leader responsible for 37-thousand murders during 15 years of rebel insurgency.
After hearing the verdict, relatives of those victims stomped on Ochalan's photo.
00:41
SOUNDBITE (Turkish)
"We gave our relatives as martyrs, now we want our revenge."
SUPER CAPTION: Omer Cicek, relative of PKK victim
00:47
The ruling could put Turkey on a collision course with European allies who have abolished capital punishment.
Already, demonstrations have been seen in major capitals.
Hundreds of Kurds took to the streets of Moscow Tuesday demanding Ocalan's sentence be overturned.
01:03
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"The Turkish government has made the most serious mistake in its history. Today they have started civil war."
SUPERCAPTION: Khazhar Kurdasker, Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe Representative for the Front for National Liberation of Kurdistan
01:11
Turkey's Parliament is expected to take the next few months to consider the death sentence.
Until then, security at the Turkish embassy here in Moscow, and around the globe, will remain on high alert.
01:26
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