Ankara - The PKK Kurdish rebel group declared Friday a temporary truce during the holy month of Ramadan in their campaign against Turkey's armed forces, the press agency Firat news said.
"We announce having moved from the position of active defence that we have observed since June 1 to a position of passive defence," the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said in a statement quoted by the pro-Kurdish news agency.
"From August 13 to September 20 our forces will not undertake any action, but will use their right to defend themselves in case of attack against them or the population," the rebel group said.
The ceasefire covers Ramadan when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious and charitable.
It will also coincide with a referendum on September 12, when Turks will vote on a reform of the constitution aimed at democratising Turkish institutions.
The PKK have denounced the proposed reform as an "initiative without the sincere will to create a truly democratic constitution."
The Kurdish rebel group has called for the constitution to recognise the rights of some 15 million (out of a population of 73 million) Turkish Kurds, as well as grant autonomy to the east and south east regions in Anatolia.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, took up arms for self-rule in the Kurdish-majority southeast in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed around 45,000 lives.
It has significantly stepped up attacks since its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan declared in May that he was abandoning efforts to seek dialogue with Ankara. - Sapa-AFP