A Terrorist's Bitter End

Turkey nabs a Kurdish radical. But can it stop the drive for independence?

His followers call him Apo, Kurdish for uncle. His enemies call him a terrorist and a "baby killer." But last week, Abdullah Ocalan, proud leader of the violent Kurdistan Workers' Party (P.K.K.), was just the cowed captive of the country he had fought for more than 14 years. As he sat strapped into the seat of a jet en route to Turkey, his face dripped with sweat and his eyes blinked nervously while he told his captors how much he "loved" Turkey and how eager he was to "render services" to them. Then he requested medicine for his heartburn.

The pathetic...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!