The march from Urfa to Amara demanding the freedom of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is continuing. The marchers walked 35 km yesterday, reaching the foothills of Mount Ararat, while the marchers en route from Adıyaman to Amara walked 50 km.

The marches are being organised on the occasion of the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan to be celebrated in the Amara village of Halfeti district of Urfa on 4 April. The marchers from Urfa and Adıyaman will first join the celebration in Halfeti on 3 April and will continue marching to Amara to celebrate the birthday of the Kurdish leader in his birthplace on 4 April.

The marchers from Urfa started yesterday morning from the Aligör neighbourhood of Suruc and reached the village of Almasar village near Birecik after a whole day's march. The people in the villages en route welcomed the marchers enthusiastically, supporting the demands of the march. The march continued the whole day despite heavy rain.

After spending the night in Almaşar village where they were kindly welcomed, the marchers started marching early this morning towards Birecik.

The march from Adıyaman to Amara first reached Çakal and Ürgüç villages, where the marchers had their lunch. They were welcomed in the villages by slogans and applause. The marchers then continued on their way towards Kuyulu (Turus) village where they spent the night after marching 50 km. DBP executive Zeynal Aydin made a speech on behalf of the marchers when they reached the village, saying that the peace cannot be sustained without the freedom of its architect, Abdullah Öcalan, and added that the freedom of the leader means the freedom of the Kurdish people as well.

The marchers will continue today, passing through the villages of Kavşid, Sam, Kerçewan, Turnus, Tutluk, Kargoli, Kosar, Arpetin and Gogan.