Thousands of people have attended the National Congress of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish political party, the Peoples Democracy Party, or HADEP, in Ankara amid a heavy police presence.

The party leader, Murat Bozlak, repeated his commitment to a campaign for minority rights and a peaceful solution to the war between the Turkish state and Kurdish rebels.

HADEP was formed four years ago after a previous pro-Kurdish party was banned for alleged links with the Kurdish separatist group, the PKK.

The BBC Ankara Correspondent says HADEP has strong support in the mainly Kurdish south east of Turkey; but it could still face closure by the authorities, especially if Mr Bozlak, and four senior colleagues -- who deny charges of PKK membership -- are found guilty and jailed.