ISTANBUL (AP) — Kurdish militants who have waged a 40-year insurgency in Turkey declared a ceasefire on Saturday in what could mark a significant boost to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, two days after their imprisoned leader called for the group to disarm.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militia on Saturday declared an immediate ceasefire, two days after its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan called on fighters to lay down their arms and dissolve the group.

A delegation of Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party went on Thursday to visit jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan in his island prison, where he was expected to give them a statement that Ankara hopes will pave the way for his outlawed group to disarm.