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Turkish PM blames Ankara bombing on Islamic State Turkish PM blames Ankara bombing on Islamic State
(about 1 hour later)
The Islamic State (IS) group is the prime suspect in the Ankara bombings that killed nearly 100 on Saturday, Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu has said.The Islamic State (IS) group is the prime suspect in the Ankara bombings that killed nearly 100 on Saturday, Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu has said.
No group has said it carried out the attack, but the government believes that two male suicide bombers caused the explosions. No group has said it carried out the attack, but the government believes that two male suicide bombers caused the explosions, hitting a peace rally.
The official death toll is 97, but one of the main groups at the march put the number of dead at 128.The official death toll is 97, but one of the main groups at the march put the number of dead at 128.
The funerals of more of the victims are taking place on Monday.The funerals of more of the victims are taking place on Monday.
Saturday's twin explosions ripped through a crowd of activists gathering outside the main railway station in the Turkish capital.Saturday's twin explosions ripped through a crowd of activists gathering outside the main railway station in the Turkish capital.
They were due to take part in a rally calling for an end to the violence between Turkish government forces and the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).They were due to take part in a rally calling for an end to the violence between Turkish government forces and the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Speaking on Turkish television, Mr Davutoglu said the bombings were an attempt to influence the forthcoming elections, due to take place on 1 November after a vote in June left no party able to form a government. There is anger in Turkey that authorities were unable to prevent such a major attack in the heart of the capital city - and some scepticism from opposition groups about the government's claims.
Many of the victims were activists of the pro-Kurdish HDP party, which says it is now considering cancelling all election rallies. Mr Davutoglu said authorities were close to identifying one of the suicide bombers, using DNA tests, and that this would help to pinpoint which group carried out the attack.
The HDP believes its delegation at the march was specifically targeted. He had previously said that IS, the PKK and far-left groups were all capable of such an attack.
The party gained parliamentary seats for the first time in June's vote, depriving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's governing AK Party of its majority. Some local media have implicated the brother of a man who carried out an IS bombing in the southern border town of Suruc in July, which killed more than 30 people.
There are also reports that investigators believe there are similarities between the device used in that attack and those used on Saturday.
Turkey announced after the Suruc bombing that it would allow its southern Incerlik airbase to be used by the US-led coalition targeting IS in Syria. Turkey, a Nato member, shares a long land border with its unstable southern neighbour.
The Ankara bombings are the most deadly in Turkey's history. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, is due to visit the country on Tuesday.
"These attacks will not turn Turkey into a Syria," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday.
Ankara bombings: Read moreAnkara bombings: Read more
"This is the worst scene I've ever seen" - Shock and anger in Ankara as mourning begins"This is the worst scene I've ever seen" - Shock and anger in Ankara as mourning begins
Who are the Kurds? - The long history of the Middle East's fourth-largest ethnic groupWho are the Kurds? - The long history of the Middle East's fourth-largest ethnic group
Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds - What's going on?Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds - What's going on?
What is 'Islamic State'? - A profile of the militant groupWhat is 'Islamic State'? - A profile of the militant group
The attack is the most deadly in Turkey's history. Speaking on Turkish television, Mr Davutoglu said the bombings were an attempt to influence the forthcoming elections, due to take place on 1 November after a vote in June left no party able to form a government.
The situation in the country was tense even before the Ankara bombings: the ceasefire with the PKK had broken down and there had been clashes between the militants and security forces, killing at least 150 since July. Many of the victims were activists of the pro-Kurdish HDP party, which says it is now considering cancelling all election rallies. It believes its delegation at the march was specifically targeted.
The party gained parliamentary seats for the first time in June's vote, depriving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's governing AK Party of its majority.
In a statement released on Monday, the HDP's leaders said the AK Party was using "escalation of violence" as a strategy to push the leftist, pro-Kurdish party back under Turkey's high electoral threshold for entering parliament.
They link the Ankara bombings to the Suruc attack and the fatal bombing of an HDP electoral rally in June, labelling them a "chain of massacres", and call on the international community to take "a firmer stance" with Turkey's government.
The situation in Turkey was tense even before the Ankara bombings: the ceasefire with the PKK had broken down and there had been clashes between the militants and security forces, killing at least 150 since July.
On Saturday the PKK unilaterally declared a new ceasefire. However, this was rejected by the Turkish government, which carried out cross-border air strikes on PKK positions in southern Turkey and Iraq on Sunday.On Saturday the PKK unilaterally declared a new ceasefire. However, this was rejected by the Turkish government, which carried out cross-border air strikes on PKK positions in southern Turkey and Iraq on Sunday.
Mr Davutoglu said authorities were close to identifying one of the suicide bombers, and that this would help to pinpoint which group carried out the attack.
He had previously said that IS, the PKK and far-left groups were all capable of such an attack.
Some local media have implicated the brother of a man who carried out an IS bombing in the southern border town of Suruc in July, which killed more than 30 people.
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Ankara says that critics of the Turkish government believe it is using IS as a scapegoat - and that murky elements of a so-called "deep state" are to blame for the bombings, aiming to shore up support ahead of the elections.The BBC's Mark Lowen in Ankara says that critics of the Turkish government believe it is using IS as a scapegoat - and that murky elements of a so-called "deep state" are to blame for the bombings, aiming to shore up support ahead of the elections.
The leader of the HDP, Selahattin Demirtas, said the state had attacked the people - and that the people of Turkey should be the recipients of international condolences, not President Erdogan.
Thousands of people attended the funeral of victim Uygar Cosgun on Monday, some of them chanting anti-government slogans, said the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen.Thousands of people attended the funeral of victim Uygar Cosgun on Monday, some of them chanting anti-government slogans, said the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen.
One of the victims of Saturday's attacks has been identified as 70-year-old Meryem Bulut, a member of the Saturday Mothers group, who have protested about their missing sons since the 1990s.One of the victims of Saturday's attacks has been identified as 70-year-old Meryem Bulut, a member of the Saturday Mothers group, who have protested about their missing sons since the 1990s.
The victimsThe victims
Turkey is mourning the deaths of at least 97 people. These are just a few of those who lost their lives, clockwise from top left:Turkey is mourning the deaths of at least 97 people. These are just a few of those who lost their lives, clockwise from top left:
Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the unrest in Ankara? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk to share your experiences.Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the unrest in Ankara? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk to share your experiences.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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