Welcoming US presidential hopeful Barrack Obama's remarks on Kashmir, separatists on Monday said the international community was gradually veering round to the view that resolution of the vexed issue was imperative for peace in South Asia.

"The US and the international community is gradually realising that resolution of the Kashmir issue is essential for peace in South Asia," People's League acting chairman Mukhtar Ahmad Waza said.

"I welcome the growing interest of Obama in resolving the Kashmir problem," he said in a statement in Srinagar.

He also welcomed United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's statement calling for resolving the Kashmir issue.

Mahaz-e-Azadi chief Mir Mohammad Iqbal also welcomed Obama's remarks and said, "It is high time the issue shall be settled amicably."

G N Waseem, another senior People's League leader, while hailing Obama's remarks, demanded release of separatist leaders arrested, mostly under the Public Safety Act, in the run-up to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly poll.

The American presidential frontrunner recently said the US should try to facilitate a better understanding between India and Pakistan and help resolve the Kashmir issue.