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Violence in Turkey threatens election, says pro-Kurdish party Violence in Turkey threatens election, says pro-Kurdish party
(about 2 hours later)
Rising violence in south-east Turkey following the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and Kurdish insurgents will make it difficult to hold an election due on 1 November, the head of the pro-Kurdish parliamentary opposition has said. Rising violence in south-east Turkey after the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and Kurdish insurgents will make it difficult to hold an election due on 1 November, the head of the pro-Kurdish parliamentary opposition has said.
Turkey’s mainly Kurdish south-east has seen almost daily clashes between militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers party (PKK) and security forces since July. The conflict has shattered a peace process started by the Turkish president, Tayyip Erdogan, in 2012 to end an insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people over three decades. Turkey’s mainly Kurdish south-east has seen almost daily clashes between militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers party (PKK) and security forces since July. The conflict has shattered a peace process started by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in 2012 to end an insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people over three decades.
Finance minister Mehmet Simsek said political instability posed the biggest risk to the economy, a rare admission by the ruling AK party that politics could further hamper Turkey’s once-stunning growth. The finance minister, Mehmet Şimşek, said political instability posed the biggest risk to the economy, a rare admission by the ruling AK party that politics could further hamper Turkey’s once-stunning growth.
Related: Kurdish civilians hit by snipers as Turkey cracks down on militantsRelated: Kurdish civilians hit by snipers as Turkey cracks down on militants
Fighting has intensified in the run-up to the parliamentary election, which the AK party hopes will restore its single-party majority and furnish a mandate for stronger presidential powers for Erdogan. Opinion polls suggest, however, an overall AK majority is unlikely to emerge. Fighting has intensified in the run-up to the parliamentary election, which the AK party hopes will restore its single-party majority and furnish a mandate for stronger presidential powers for Erdoğan. Opinion polls suggest, however, an overall AK majority is unlikely to emerge.
On Tuesday, nationalist crowds attacked the office of a newspaper in Istanbul and the Ankara headquarters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP). A video released by the HDP showed its offices in the Mediterranean town of Alanya ablaze.On Tuesday, nationalist crowds attacked the office of a newspaper in Istanbul and the Ankara headquarters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP). A video released by the HDP showed its offices in the Mediterranean town of Alanya ablaze.
“It is becoming impossible to hold an election given the security situation in the region,” Selahattin Demirtas, the head of the HDP, told a news conference in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir. “We want an election to be held and we are not saying an election can’t be held, but we want the conditions in the region to be improved for an election.” “It is becoming impossible to hold an election given the security situation in the region,” Selahattin Demirtaş, the head of the HDP, told a news conference in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakır. “We want an election to be held and we are not saying an election can’t be held, but we want the conditions in the region to be improved for an election.”
More than 40 Turkish warplanes have hit PKK targets this week in northern Iraq, where the group has bases, in response to Sunday’s killing of 16 Turkish soldiers near the Iraqi border, the deadliest PKK attack since the ceasefire collapsed.More than 40 Turkish warplanes have hit PKK targets this week in northern Iraq, where the group has bases, in response to Sunday’s killing of 16 Turkish soldiers near the Iraqi border, the deadliest PKK attack since the ceasefire collapsed.
The latest of these airstrikes was carried out late on Tuesday on PKK targets in Daglica, a south-eastern province close to the Iraq and Iran borders, a security source told Reuters. The latest of these airstrikes was carried out late on Tuesday on PKK targets in Dağlıca, a south-eastern province close to the Iraq and Iran borders, a security source told Reuters.
Related: Turkey's president calls for new election after government deadline passesRelated: Turkey's president calls for new election after government deadline passes
More than 100 members of Turkey’s security forces have been killed since the conflict resumed in July, based on information from government officials and security sources. Some 2,000 PKK militants have been killed, according to Erdogan. In Istanbul, 93 people were detained over damage to property during nationalist protests on Tuesday night. Among buildings attacked was the headquarters of the mass-circulation Hürriyet newspaper.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, launched its separatist insurgency in 1984. In Istanbul, 93 people were detained over damage to property during nationalist protests on Tuesday night. Among buildings attacked was the headquarters of the mass-circulation Hurriyet newspaper. More than 100 members of Turkey’s security forces have been killed since the conflict resumed in July, based on information from government officials and security sources. About 2,000 PKK militants have been killed, according to Erdoğan.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, launched its separatist insurgency in 1984.