Erdogan rejects criticism of Turkey's peace efforts with Kurdish militants

ANKARA, Apr 29: President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the peace process aimed at ending Turkey's decades-long conflict with Kurdish militants was progressing in a "positive atmosphere", after criticism from pro-Kurdish lawmakers.

Speaking in parliament, Erdogan said recent steps had brought the process to a more sensitive stage following the approval of a parliamentary commission report outlining a roadmap for legal reforms alongside the disbandment of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

His remarks come a day after the pro-Kurdish DEM Party issued one of its strongest criticisms yet of the government, accusing it of acting in a "hesitant, timid and stalling manner" despite what it described as a historic opportunity for peace.

Erdogan rejected such criticism, saying: "There is a positive atmosphere, what needs to be done is clear, and the process is progressing as it should."     �"REUTERS