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Turkey rejects calls for international observers at Ocalan trial

ANKARA, Feb 17 (AFP) - Turkey on Wednesday rejected European calls for international observers to be permitted to follow the  trial of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is to stand trial there on terrorism charges.

"It is not possible for us to accept actions from outside Turkey which might be an intervention in the Turkish judicial process,"  Sermet Atancanli, spokesman for the Turkish foreign ministry, told reporters in Ankara.

"Thus we could not accept such things as observers." Atacanli said Turkish courts were open to the public and anyone could follow the legal proceedings there.   

"However, if people who give themselves legal titles such as observers or lawyers come to Turkey to behave like an inspector,  they will not be allowed to do so," Atacanli said.

Several European leaders on Tuesday called for any trial of Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), to be fair and demanded that foreign observers be present at the trial.

 

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