Russia does not welcome Oclan in its territories

The Russian ambassador to Turkey, Alexander Lepidiv, said on Thursday that Moscow does not welcome leader of the Kurdistani Workers Party, Abdullah Oclan in its territories.

In reply to what had been reported by Turkish dailies, quoting Israeli and Egyptian sources, that Oclan is now in Russia, the Russian ambassador said: Oclan has nothing to do and he is not welcomed in Russia."

The Turkish daily "Radical" quoted a high-ranking official at the Israeli Mossad as saying that Oclan may be in Russia. The Turkish daily "Mellit," on the other hand, quoted Egyptian diplomatic sources as saying that the Kurdish leader "finds a resort in Russia."

Recently, Turkish Prime Minister Mesout Yilmaz said that Russia, Lebanon and Armenia are three countries that are candidates to receivee Oclan. He added he believed Moscow would refuse to receive Oclan.

Meanwhile, Sudanese Minister of State Amin Hassan Mahmoud denied in an interview with the London-based Saudi "Middle East" daily the possibility of Oclan's being in Sudan.