The Turkish government has decided to postpone the execution of the condemned Kurdish rebel-leader, Abdullah Ocalan, in response to a request by the European Court of Human rights. Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit said the coalition partners had agreed to put off the execution until the European Court rules on the case, a process that could take up to two years. Mr Ecevit had argued that hanging Ocalan would compromise Turkey's chances of becoming a full member of the European Union. Ocalan was sentenced to death for treason, last June.
