Turkey is to hold talks with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group, fuelling hopes of moves to resolve a decades-old conflict after the end of a hunger strike by its members.

Hundreds of PKK inmates ended a 68-day hunger strike on Sunday in response to an appeal from their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin did not specify when talks might take place but the state has held secret discussions with senior PKK representatives in Oslo in recent years. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in September more talks were possible.

He added: "These talks have been held as and when deemed necessary, and will be held in the future."