The Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has pledged to work for peace in Turkey in response to the Turkish Government's decision to delay the ratification of the death sentence imposed on him last year.

In his first response to the suspension of the execution process, he said his PKK rebel movement would not try to exploit the government's decision to its own advantage.

In a written statement released by his lawyers, Mr Ocalan said the government's decision was a step towards democracy and Turkey's integration with the European Union.

He said further reform was needed and the PKK would try to play its part.

He urged all political parties not to provoke what is still a tense situation. Further fighting, he said, would help no-one.

End to campaign

Mr Ocalan reaffirmed that he had given up the battle for a separate Kurdish state in eastern Turkey. He called the separatist campaign an historic mistake.

But the BBC's correspondent in Ankara, Chris Morris, says the rebel leader's efforts to position himself as a born again democrat will not convince everyone.

He says there are plenty of people in Turkey who still believe he should be put to death.

As soon as the European Court of Human Rights has issued a ruling on the Ocalan case, the Turkish parliament will decide whether the death sentence should be ratified.

Analysts say if Mr Ocalan were to be executed, the PKK's peace offensive would probably come to a sudden end.