WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it had offered financial rewards for information revealing the identity or location of three top members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a rebellion against the Turkish state for decades.
That move could help the United States repair its tense relations with Turkey, with which it shares NATO membership.
Washington's support for the Syrian Kurdish people's protection units in fighting an organization that has fueled Ankara's anger has raised Turkey as a terrorist organization like the PKK.
Washington announced bonuses of up to $ 5 million to give information on Murat Krylan, $ 4 million for Jamil Pike, and $ 3 million for Kalkan's turnover.
The announcement was made after the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Matthew Palmer.
According to the Turkish Interior Ministry, the three PKK members are also on Ankara's "most wanted terrorists" list and are described by the ministry as party leaders.
Turkey, the United States and the European Union have branded the PKK a terrorist organization and have killed more than 40,000 people since the PKK began its rebellion in Turkey in 1984.
Relations between Turkey and the United States have been improving since the release of US priest Andrew Branson from prison last month.
The two countries exchanged a week ago the lifting of sanctions on government officials, imposed in August on the Branson case.
Washington announced this week that Turkey would receive a temporary exemption from US-imposed sanctions on Iran.
For his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said talks with the United States over the state-owned Bank of Creation, which faces a US fine over allegations of circumvention of Iran's sanctions, are moving in a positive direction.
Turkish and US troops began joint maneuvers last week in the Syrian city of Manbij, which both sides agreed to clear up from militants. Turkey has already announced that the United States is delaying implementation of the plan.
