The imprisoned leader of Turkey's main Kurdish rebel group has warned his forces will unleash a "big war" after national elections if Turkey refuses to negotiate to end the decades-old conflict, a pro-Kurdish news agency reported Friday.

"Either after June 15, a meaningful negotiation begins, or a big war starts, doomsday comes," the Firat agency website said Ocalan warned, in a message through his lawyers. Turkey holds elections on June 12 and final results are expected to take several days.

Turkish leaders have confirmed communication between some state officials and Ocalan to seek a solution to end the fight by autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels but refuse to hold negotiations with the rebels, who are branded as terrorists by the United States and the European Union, AP reported.