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Abdullah Ocalan was sentenced to death on Tuesday
RELATED VIDEO CNN's Matthew Chance reports on the death sentence for Ocalan, whose 15-year fight for Kurdish independence left thousands dead Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: International community rejects Ocalan death penalty

June 29, 1999
Web posted at: 5:10 a.m. EST (1010 GMT)

In this story: Warning of bloodshed 'Sleep well' banners read Many Kurds say U.S. aided in capture RELATED STORIES, SITES

IMRALI ISLAND, Turkey (CNN) -- A Turkish court sentenced Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan to death Tuesday on charges of treason for leading a 15-year fight for Kurdish autonomy in southeast Turkey.

As Judge Turgut Okyay read the verdict, Ocalan stood silently inside a bomb-proof glass case. Outside, Turkish soldiers were on guard. Turkish police are ready to forestall possible plane hijackings, or attacks at embassies and airports.

As far away as Berlin, police were preparing, in case violent demonstrations erupt following the death sentence. When Ocalan was captured in Kenya in February, demonstrations and violence occurred in several European cities.

The guilty verdict by the three-judge-panel was widely expected.

Earlier, in a final statement, Ocalan appealed Tuesday for a chance to make peace between the state and his rebels. He also said he did not accept the accusations of treason.

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In the courtroom, families of soldiers killed in the fighting broke out in song -- the Turkish national anthem -- after the verdict was read. Ocalan waved to the courtroom before leaving the glass box.

The death sentence will be appealed, and if the appeals court upholds it, it will go to parliament and then President Suleyman Demirel for approval, a process that could take months.

After meeting with Ocalan on Monday, one of his lawyers, Mahmut Sakar, said the defense would appeal any sentence to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, because his client's capture and trial were illegal.

Turks hold Ocalan responsible for 37,000 deaths which resulted from the fighting, and there is overwhelming support for his execution. Most of the dead were Kurdish guerrillas and civilians.

Ocalan, leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, has offered to work for peace if his life is spared but warned of massive bloodshed if he is hanged.

Earlier in the trial, Ocalan had warned that if he is executed "thousands of people will start the terror machine for me."

Austrian and Dutch authorities said before the verdict they were taking special precautions in anticipation of possible protests. In Greece, authorities placed some Kurds under surveillance and increased airport and embassy security.

Ocalan tried to convince the court that he was needed as a peace mediator between Turks and Kurds, who are angered by Turkey's refusal to grant them minority rights.

Broadcasting or teaching in Kurdish is illegal in Turkey, which is home to some 12 million Kurds.

Journalists were allowed to cover the verdict, but only TRT and Anatolia were permitted to report from the island.

A group of Turkish people celebrate Abdullah Ocalan's death sentence

Many analysts believe that Ocalan's fighters may refrain from riots or major attacks until the death sentence reaches parliament, where the decision on execution becomes political, not legal.

The ruling is expected to be controverisal among Turkey's European allies who abolished capital punishment.

Although no one has been executed in Turkey during the past 15 years, public pressure to hang Ocalan is extremely strong.

Families of soldiers killed in fighting against the PKK gathered at Mudanya, the port closest to the prison island where the trial is being held, to celebrate the verdict.

Some carried banners that read: "Sleep well my martyr, your murderer is paying for his crime" and "The land cannot be divided."

Turkish police on Monday reinforced security at embassies, airports, prisons and tourist resorts, a police official said.

Security will be particularly high around U.S. diplomatic missions.

Many Kurds believe the United States helped Turkey during the February abduction of Ocalan.

Turkish authorities hope that Ocalan's sentencing will deal a final blow to the rebel organization, already weakened by military defeats in the southeast.

Hoping to further weaken the rebels, the government has drafted a bill that offers leniency to rebels who surrender and cooperate with authorities.

The Justice Ministry also ordered extra security at prisons, often the scene of violent pro-Kurdish demonstrations.

Many Kurds regard PKK rebels, who are demanding autonomy in the southeast, as freedom fighters.

Correspondents Matthew Chance and Bettina Lüscher, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.