The World - News from July 20, 1987

More than eight years of martial law in Turkey came to an end as military rule was lifted in the four provinces that had remained under army control. Emergency rule will replace martial law in Diyarbakir, Mardin, Siirt and Hakkari, where Kurdish guerrillas have been seeking autonomy. Under emergency rule, the sweeping powers of army commanders will pass to a civilian governor, who will be supplied with additional army and intelligence units to combat the rebels. Martial law was first declared in 13 provinces in 1978 but was extended to cover the entire nation after a 1980 coup. After 1983 general elections, the government began to gradually lift martial law.