The ceremony took place under tight security at a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan - the disarmament process is expected to last all summer.

A ceremony in northern Iraq on Friday saw a handful of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants lay down their weapons, a small but hugely symbolic gesture that marks the beginning of an end to a conflict with the Turkish state that’s lasted nearly five decades and cost tens of thousands of lives.

Disarmament process begins in northern Iraq after long-jailed leader calls on PKK to disband Ceremony attended by Turkish, Iraqi officials and pro-Kurdish DEM party Disarmament could bolster regional stability,