The judge ruled that Selahattin Demirtas, chairman of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), had "disseminated the propaganda of a terrorist organization" when he declared in a television interview that jailed rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan was the leader of the Kurdish people.

The court in Diyarbakir, the regional capital of the mainly Kurdish southeast, said that part of its decision not to send Demirtas to prison was based upon his good behaviour during the trial.

Demirtas, who was not present in court, has the right to appeal the sentence.

Defence lawyers had argued that the BDP leader had exercised his right to free speech in the interview, given three years ago to a Europe-based Kurdish channel.

The sentence coincides with tentative efforts by the government to find a peaceful solution to a 26-year campaign by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for self-rule in the southeast.

Last week, two senior government ministers met with Demirtas for rare talks while press reports said officials were also in contact with PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan on the prison island where he is serving a life sentence.

The meetings with Ocalan were aimed at persuading the PKK into extending an existing truce, discuss amnesty for the rebels if they agree to lay down arms and fresh reforms to expand Kurdish freedoms, the reports said.

The PKK, blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and much of the international community, picked up arms against Ankara in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives, led to gross allegations of human rights and displaced thousands.