- Title: Various: Abdullah Ocalan
- Date: 17th January 1999
- Summary: The Kurdish community on January 17 denied the rumours that Turkey's most wanted criminal was in Moscow after leaving Italy a free man on January 16. Turkish daily newspapers reported that the PKK leader was in Russia once more after fleeing Rome. But because of Moscow's promise not to shelter Ocalan, the papers said it was likely that Ocalan would travel on to a third country. The papers also said Turkey has demanded an official explanation from Italy as to why Ocalan was set free and not extradited to Turkey. Ocalan arrived in Italy from Moscow on November 12 1998 and was arrested on a German warrant. Italy rejected a request to extradite him to Turkey to face treason charges because its laws ban sending back suspects who could face the death penalty. A spokesman for the German-based DEM news agency, which is close to the PKK rebels, said he was in a "safe place".
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- Location: TURKEY
- Reuters ID: LDL0012AINGAN
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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