This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33025916
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Turkey election: 'Two dead' in blasts at Kurdish rally | Turkey election: 'Two dead' in blasts at Kurdish rally |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least two people have died and 100 were injured in two explosions at Turkey's mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbaki ahead of the general election, officials say. | At least two people have died and 100 were injured in two explosions at Turkey's mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbaki ahead of the general election, officials say. |
The cause is not yet clear, with the energy minister denying reports it was due to an electrical malfunction. | The cause is not yet clear, with the energy minister denying reports it was due to an electrical malfunction. |
Thousands attended the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) final rally ahead of Sunday's vote. | Thousands attended the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) final rally ahead of Sunday's vote. |
HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas has appealed for calm in the city. | HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas has appealed for calm in the city. |
The death toll was confirmed by Mehmet Mehdi Eker, a Diyarbakir MP and the country's agriculture minister. | The death toll was confirmed by Mehmet Mehdi Eker, a Diyarbakir MP and the country's agriculture minister. |
Speaking at his own election rally in the nearby city of Gaziantep, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu promised an investigation into the explosion. | Speaking at his own election rally in the nearby city of Gaziantep, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu promised an investigation into the explosion. |
"Whatever is behind this incident...whether it was a power transformer explosion, an assassination attempt, an act of provocation - we shall investigate it and get the result as soon as possible," he said. | |
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz denied earlier statements that the explosion was caused by a fault in a generator at the rally site. | |
"It suggests there was an outside agent," he said, without providing further details. | |
The fortune's of the HDP are seen as key to the result of Turkey's election. | The fortune's of the HDP are seen as key to the result of Turkey's election. |
Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said at least 20 of the people who were injured in the incident have been hospitalised, according to the Associated Press news agency. | Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said at least 20 of the people who were injured in the incident have been hospitalised, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
Under Turkey's electoral system a party needs to win 10% of the overall vote to enter parliament, which polls show the HDP are close to achieving. | Under Turkey's electoral system a party needs to win 10% of the overall vote to enter parliament, which polls show the HDP are close to achieving. |
If this does happen it may end the single party rule of President Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AK). | If this does happen it may end the single party rule of President Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AK). |