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Turkey says election will go ahead despite Ankara bombing Turkey says election will go ahead despite Ankara bombing
(35 minutes later)
Turkey has vowed to hold a general election in three weeks’ time despite a devastating twin bomb attack that killed at least 128 people in the capital, Ankara, on Saturday.Turkey has vowed to hold a general election in three weeks’ time despite a devastating twin bomb attack that killed at least 128 people in the capital, Ankara, on Saturday.
Two suspected suicide bombers targeted a peace rally that had been organised by several leftist groups to call for an end to escalating violence between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s party (PKK). It was the deadliest on Turkish soil in recent history.Two suspected suicide bombers targeted a peace rally that had been organised by several leftist groups to call for an end to escalating violence between the Turkish government and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s party (PKK). It was the deadliest on Turkish soil in recent history.
The snap election was called after the ruling AK party lost its majority in June polls and talks to form a coalition broke down. A senior official told Reuters: “Postponing the elections as a result of the attack is not on the table at all, even as an option. The elections will be held on 1 November as planned.”The snap election was called after the ruling AK party lost its majority in June polls and talks to form a coalition broke down. A senior official told Reuters: “Postponing the elections as a result of the attack is not on the table at all, even as an option. The elections will be held on 1 November as planned.”
The official added: “Because of the rising risks, the security at election rallies, which is already being increased, will be raised further. The election will be held in a secure way.”The official added: “Because of the rising risks, the security at election rallies, which is already being increased, will be raised further. The election will be held in a secure way.”
The interim government labelled the attack a terrorist act and declared three days of national mourning. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP), which had a strong presence at the peace rally, accused the government of being responsible for the attack and for the high death toll, and said it would suspend all election rallies.The interim government labelled the attack a terrorist act and declared three days of national mourning. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP), which had a strong presence at the peace rally, accused the government of being responsible for the attack and for the high death toll, and said it would suspend all election rallies.
“While there are the dead bodies of our friends still lying on the ground, who could think of campaigning for the election?” the HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtas told reporters shortly after the news of the attack broke.“While there are the dead bodies of our friends still lying on the ground, who could think of campaigning for the election?” the HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtas told reporters shortly after the news of the attack broke.
The AKP’s failure in the June elections was partly due to the rise of the HDP, which won 13% of all votes and sent 80 MPs to Ankara, granting the country’s 20 million Kurds unprecedented political representation.The AKP’s failure in the June elections was partly due to the rise of the HDP, which won 13% of all votes and sent 80 MPs to Ankara, granting the country’s 20 million Kurds unprecedented political representation.
The AKP interim government has faced increasing criticism over the deteriorating security situation in Turkey. Renewed hostilities with the PKK, the recent involvement of Russia in Syria and the continuing threat of Isis activities in Syria and Iraq have all raised concerns. The AKP interim government has faced increasing criticism over the deteriorating security situation in Turkey. Renewed hostilities with the PKK, the recent involvement of Russia in Syria and the continuing threat of Islamic State activities in Syria and Iraq have all raised concerns.
Following a meeting on Sunday between the acting prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, and Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s party (CHP), Kiliçdaroglu said said the interior minister and the justice minister should resign over their handling of the Ankara bombing. Following a meeting on Sunday between the acting prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, and Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s party (CHP), Kiliçdaroglu said the interior minister and the justice minister should resign over their handling of the Ankara bombing.
The interior minister, Selami Altinok, has rejected accusations of a security failure and said he had not considered resignation.The interior minister, Selami Altinok, has rejected accusations of a security failure and said he had not considered resignation.
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement party (MHP), said he had turned down a request from Davutoğlu to meet. He blamed the government’s foreign policy for the bombing in Ankara.Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement party (MHP), said he had turned down a request from Davutoğlu to meet. He blamed the government’s foreign policy for the bombing in Ankara.
“Turkey has been paying the price for the [government’s] sympathetic approach to terror and their biased approach in foreign policy matters,” Bahçeli said. “Both President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan and Prime Minister Davutoğlu should immediately demonstrate the necessary will to rebuild national security.”“Turkey has been paying the price for the [government’s] sympathetic approach to terror and their biased approach in foreign policy matters,” Bahçeli said. “Both President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan and Prime Minister Davutoğlu should immediately demonstrate the necessary will to rebuild national security.”
Citing a suicide bombing in Suruç in July that killed 33 people, he said the government had not done enough to prevent similar attacks. His party voted against a proposal by the CHP to set up a joint parliamentary commission to investigate terrorist activity following the Suruç attack.Citing a suicide bombing in Suruç in July that killed 33 people, he said the government had not done enough to prevent similar attacks. His party voted against a proposal by the CHP to set up a joint parliamentary commission to investigate terrorist activity following the Suruç attack.
A shaky peace process between the Turkish government and the PKK, launched in 2012, broke down in July. The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people since it began in 1984.A shaky peace process between the Turkish government and the PKK, launched in 2012, broke down in July. The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people since it began in 1984.
Hours after Saturday’s bomb attack, the PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire in order not to endanger “fair and just elections” in November, an offer that was promptly swept aside by the government in Ankara as Turkish fighter jets pounded PKK positions.Hours after Saturday’s bomb attack, the PKK announced a unilateral ceasefire in order not to endanger “fair and just elections” in November, an offer that was promptly swept aside by the government in Ankara as Turkish fighter jets pounded PKK positions.
The airstrikes killed 49 Kurdish militants, according to a statement published by the military leadership. Two soldiers were killed on Sunday afternoon during a military operation against the PKK.The airstrikes killed 49 Kurdish militants, according to a statement published by the military leadership. Two soldiers were killed on Sunday afternoon during a military operation against the PKK.