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Turkey’s IS predicament with US, Kurds

While Turkey dithered about joining the anti-Islamic State coalition, PKK military chief Murat Karayilan said the Kurdish peace process was over, derailed by Ankara's dealings with IS.
People carry flags bearing the portrait of Abdullah Ocalan, one of the founding members of the militant organisation, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, during a pro-Kurdish protest against Islamic State (IS) militant attacks on Syrian Kurds, in Istanbul September 21, 2014. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY  - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR473RF

Last Sept. 20, Turkey woke up to surprising news: Early in the morning, the 49 hostages held by the Islamic State (IS) since the day it captured Mosul on June 10 were released. The first public reaction was naturally of joy and great relief. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu cut short his official visit to Baku and flew to Urfa to meet with the released hostages and fly with them to Ankara.

The drama of the hostage issue instantly transformed into a vigorous public relations campaign on the success of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule and the Davutoglu government in Turkey. But that did not pre-empt the question in public opinion: What was the deal behind all this? What is the behind-the-curtain story of the hostage release?

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