Turkey's HDP says PKK's jailed leader 'ready to make a call for disarmament'

Greeted by supporters, Selahattin Demirtas, the co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), smiles as he arrives at his party HQ in Ankara on June 9. AP Photo

Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has said it was open to all options for a coalition government other than with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and that President Tayyip Erdo?an should remain within his constitutional limits.

"We do not have a personal animosity towards President Erdo?an. A president that breaches the constitution, and violates the law and justice will always be criticised by us," HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirta? said on June 11.

But striking a more conciliatory note, he said also his party would play a constructive role in parliament, particularly in advancing peace with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants.

"As HDP, we are ready to live up to our responsibilities and put away the competitiveness of the election period for peace," Demirta? said, adding that the jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, was ready to make a call for disarmament and that a peace process with his group should accelerate.

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