PKK deny involvement in Istanbul bombing

The PKK rebel group has denied that it was involved in yesterday's suicide bomb attack against a Police bus in Istanbul which injured 32 people. It is believed that the attack may have been carried out by hardline elements withing the seperatist movement who are opposed to the ongoing discussions between the rebel leadership and the Turkish government.

Following the attack the PKK also extended it's ceasefire, which was due to expire yesterday, until the first week of June 2011.

In a statement the PKK said that it was extending it's non-aggression pact until the 2011 General Election in order to help bring about a democratic process and allow elections inTurkey to go ahead in a healthy environment.

A senior security official said he believed a rogue PKK unit was responsible for the attack and noted that the explosive A-4, a substance which is almost exclusively used by the PKK in Turkey, had been used.

Attacks in tourist areas are usually carried out by a group calling itself the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK). In June, 3 soldiers and a civilian were killed when the TAK bombed a military bus in Istanbul. The PKK claims that TAK are an extreme splinter group outside of their control.