At least 86 dead as of 15:53 in Ankara explosions. AKP’s Turkey cannot even provide security in its own capital…

http://ift.tt/1Mn36HQ

 

 

 

 

Turkey blast: aftermath of Ankara bomb attack – video

World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk

The aftermath of twin explosions outside Ankara’s main train station on Saturday morning. The blasts appear to have targeted hundreds of people who had gathered to protest violence between authorities and Kurdish separatist group, the PKK. Turkish government officials said the explosion was a terrorist attack and are investigating the claim that a suicide bomber was responsible

Blasts in Ankara, Turkish Capital, Kill at Least 30

NYT > Turkey by By CEYLAN YEGINSU

The explosions on Saturday took place before a planned demonstration against the conflict between Kurdish militants and the government in Turkey’s southeast.

Turkey blast: moment of explosion at Ankara peace rally – video

 World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk

Footage posted to social media shows the moment one of two bomb blasts goes off during a peace rally in the centre of the Turkish capital on Saturday. Government officials said the explosion was a terrorist attack and are investigating the claim that a suicide bomber was responsible. The country’s prime minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, is to hold a meeting with government officials and security chiefs in response to the attack

Explosion at Ankara Peace Rally

Bianet :: English

As corteges gather an explosion took place prior to Ankara Peace Rally. There are many dead and wounded. Davutoğlu gathers with ministers. First statements by Demirtaş and Kılıçdaroğlu have come.

VIDEO: Security footage of Ankara twin blast released

A security footage of the twin blast in the capital Ankara, which killed at least 30 and injured 126, has been released

Photos from the aftermath of Ankara blast

Twin blasts in the capital Ankara targeting a peace rally left at least 30 dead and 126 wounded as hundreds of bodies were covered by banners and flags. Here are the first images from the scene

Allies, Council of Europe condemn deadly attack in Turkey

Turkey’s allies and international organizations have joined in unison condemnation of the deadly attack which killed dozens of people in the capital city of Ankara

PKK says halts militant activity in Turkey until elections

The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) called on its fighters to halt activities in Turkey unless they face an attack, a news website close to the organization said

Pre-electoral PACE delegation voices concerns over Turkey’s early elections

A delegation of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voiced concerns over pressure on media, recent violence on political party premises and highly disproportionate coverage of different political parties by state-owned media during their meeting in Ankara Oct. 5-6.

Voting for the Nov 1 polls starts abroad and at customs gates

Voting for the snap elections on Nov. 1 has started at Turkey’s representatives in foreign countries and at border gates across the country.

HDP Deputy Asks Parliamentary Question about Hate Speech in School Books

 Bianet :: English

HDP Mardin deputy Mehmet Aslan asked a parliamentary question about marginalizing and discriminating expressions in Turkish Language Association against Arabs.

MALE VIOLENCE SEPTEMBER 2015: Men Kill 29 Women in September

 Bianet :: English

Men have killed 29 women in September, in addition four women allegedly committed suicide. 14.5 percent of women killed because they wanted to break up/divorce or rejected their lovers’ proposal to make up.

‘Turkey suffering from mass fascism since Gezi protests’
Today’s Zaman
In the Abant Platform meeting on Wednesday, during which experts gathered to discuss the success of social opposition and protests both in Turkey and across the globe, Murat Özbank, an assistant professor at İstanbul Bilgi University, said Turkey since…

Infographics: Betting on the Nov. 1 election

Bookmakers say AKP likely to fall short of majority again

Top commander says Turkey ‘actually waging war’ since July

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have been “actually waging a war” for the last few months, a top commander has said, referring to military operations launched against bases of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

YSK’s rejection of ballot box relocation an ‘erosion of authority,’ says PM

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has joined criticism of Turkey’s top election authority for its refusal to call for the relocation of ballot boxes in several eastern and southeastern districts, though Deputy Prime Minister Tuğrul Türkeş voiced confidence that security forces and local administrations would find a “formula” for a safe election

Turkish PM calls dragged corpse pic ‘unacceptable’

PM Davutoğlu has deplored a tweeted image of a corpse tied to the back of a security vehicle being dragged along a street in southeast Turkey where security forces are battling militants of the outlawed PKK

Up to 400,000 security forces, including military, taking measures for election security in Turkey

Almost 400,000 security forces, including units from the Land Forces Command, have been taking measures to provide security before the Nov. 1 snap election amid continued clashes between security forces and militants of the outlawed PKK, Interior Minister Selami Altınok has stated.

Court fines state to pay around 550,000 liras to family of 1980 coup prisoner victim

A local court in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır has fined the Ministry of Defense a total of 548,000 Turkish Liras for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages to a victim, who died in custody allegedly due to torture.

Perpetrators of Journalist Ahmet Hakan Testify

Bianet :: English

Journalist Hakan’s perpetrators stated to the police they were offered 29, 850 Euros to attack him and the instructions were given by a state man. However, the perpetrators changed their testimonies at the court.

Nato chief doubts Russia’s violations of Turkish airspace were accidental

 World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk

Jens Stoltenberg also says US-led Nato alliance has received reports of Russian military buildup, including ground troops and ships, in Syria

Related posts:

1. “NATO calls emergency meeting at Turkey’s request… Let’s see how Turkey will explain its position…
2. New Turkey: A staunchly pro-AKP columnist, C.K. threatened columnist Ahmet Hakan with death…
3. Citizens in Cizre, Şırnak who have been under siege by Turkish military for days, share passwords for online communications
4. Erdoğan of course knows better, challenges US, claims PYD is terrorist… In the mean time, AKP’s election jingle banned due its religious exploitation…
5. As more blood spilled, nationalist MHP leans towards AKP for a war government…

Vía Erkan’s Field Diary http://ift.tt/1Lx9Tth

Filed under: Uncategorized

November snap poll announced while “Civilian entry blocked in 127 eastern Turkish zones since early June…

http://ift.tt/1EhmNic

Civilian entry blocked in 127 eastern Turkish zones since early June

Some 127 zones in 15 provinces in eastern Turkey have so far been declared “temporary military secure zones,” amid tightened security measures against outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attacks

Turkey to vote in November snap poll

BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Snap elections are being called in Turkey after efforts to form a coalition government in the wake of a June vote fail.

Protest at Soldier’s Funeral: “Why Do Those Favoring Resolution Process Now Advocate Fighting?”

Bianet :: English

32-year-old Captain Ali Alkan killed in the attack at gendarmerie station has been buried in Osmaniye province. In the funeral ceremony, Alkan’s elder brother Lieutenant Colonel, Mehmet Alkan, reacted against Justice and Development Party (AKP) members: “Why do those favoring resolution [process] now advocate fighting?”

CHP vows to resolve Kurdish issue on basis of democracy, justice

The incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP) government dragged the country into terror and violence, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has said, vowing to resolve the Kurdish issue on the basis of “democracy and justice” by coming to power in the upcoming early election

Co-Mayors of Sur and Silvan Districts in Diyarbakır Arrested Over ‘Self-Governance’ Claims

Bianet :: English

Co-mayors of two districts in the southeastern Diyarbakır province have been arrested on charges of “breaking up the unity of the state and integrity of the country.” Among the arrested were also the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Sur district co-chair and an employee from Women’s Academy, Güneş Ölmez.

Three mayors in Diyarbakır arrested after autonomy declarations

Four mayors in southeastern Turkey have been arrested for announcing their autonomy from Ankara in response to violent attacks by state forces during battles between the military and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

‘No more one-sided ceasefires,’ senior PKK figure says

A senior outlawed PKK figure has responded to calls from the co-chairs of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to halt violence, ruling out any “one-sided” move to silence arms

Alevis to ‘block legal system’ if rulings not put into effect

The government is obliged to implement decisions taken by Turkey’s Supreme Court and the ECHR on the rights of the Alevis, or else the justice system will be blocked by thousands of new legal cases and ‘unfortunate’ things could take place, says Professor İzzettin Doğan, the head of the Cem Foundation

For Erdogan And AKP, It Is Harder To Re-Sell The ‘Victimization’ Story

The Istanbulian by Emre Kızılkaya

AA photo

My barber agreed with me today that the most striking image of the past week was the one that showed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan making a political speech with his hand on the coffin of slain soldier.

BBC defends report on PKK after criticism from Ankara

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has defended its report on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), stating it was only one of the many reports it did on Turkey

President Erdogan of Turkey to Call for New Election

NYT > Turkey by By CEYLAN YEGINSU

After no deal emerged from weeks of talks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would call a Nov. 1 vote to break the impasse among the four main political parties.

55 security personnel, 771 terrorists killed in one month: Report

As many as 55 Turkish security personnel have been killed in terrorist attacks across Turkey over the past month, while the security forces have killed 771 militants from the outlawed PKK in operations within the country and in northern Iraq, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Aug. 21.

EKİN KARACA’S INTERVIEW: Tarık Ziya Ekinci: PKK Announcing Truce Strengthens HDP’s Hand

Bianet :: English

Tarık Ziya Ekinci is of the opinion that Erdoğan is going to overlook persistence of the conflict atmosphere during the election campaign period to have the HDP remain under the election threshold.

Turkish far-right group will only take to streets ‘if security forces fail to combat terror’

The far-right “Idealist Hearths” (Ülkü Ocakları), which has close links with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), vowed in a statement that it will remain within the law and will not take an active role in fight against terror – unless the security forces fail to accomplish their duties.

Former prosecutor Öz seeks asylum from Germany: Daily

Former prosecutor Zekeriya Öz has sought political asylum from Germany following an arrest warrant issued for him after he headed Turkey’s biggest corruption investigation involving the sons of four former ministers in 2013, daily Sözcü reported

126 ISIL members in prison: Turkish Justice Ministry

Some 126 people were in Turkish prisons on charges of being a member of ISIL as of Aug. 10 2015, the Justice Ministry has stated in reply to question submitted by Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Faysal Sarıyıldız.

Former Turkish minister likens HDP co-chair Demirtaş to a werewolf

‘I think of Selahattin Demirtaş as a werewolf. He lives like a normal human during the day but turns into a monster when a full moon rises at night,’ AKP figure and former Health Minister says

Erdoğan orders village heads to stop smoking, seizes cigarette packages

An official from the Turkish Presidency has shared images of cigarette boxes belonging to village heads (muhtars) who have reportedly quit smoking at the request of President Erdoğan

One man’s ego dragging Turkey to re-election: CHP

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has accused President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of egotistically “violating democracy” with his push for new polls, while heaping scorn on both PM Ahmet Davutoğlu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli for staying silent on the development

Turkish forces killed 771 PKK militants in past month: State media

Turkish forces have killed 771 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey over the last four weeks, the state-run Anadolu Agency said on Aug. 21.

Attacks reveal PKK prepared for war during peace talks: Analyst

Recent attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which have killed more than 50 Turkish security forces have revealed that the group installed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on roads while peace talks were continuing, a security analyst has told daily Hürriyet

Turkey must do more to fight ISIL: Pentagon chief

Turkey should play a full part in the US-led air campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and take better control of its border with Syria, the US defense secretary said on Aug. 20.

Would new elections in Turkey serve AKP?

 AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)

President Erdogan says the solution to the current political impasse is to turn to people’s will.

Turkey’s Erdogan fights for his throne by battling Kurds

Reuters – Aug 23

If democracy is the art of compromise, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is no democrat. And if democracy means listening to the electorate and respecting the spirit of parliamentary procedure, he fails on these criteria as well. Turkey went…

Transparency International criticizes Turkey

Transparency International has criticized the poor criminal liability of legal entities in Turkey, in addition to political interference in foreign bribery investigations, in a report titled “Exporting Corruption” that was revealed Aug. 20

Erdogan admits Turkey must hold new election

 EurActiv.com

Turkey is heading rapidly toward a new election and only the “will of the people” can break a political deadlock after the ruling AK Party failed to form a working government, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday (19 August).

In pictures: PKK fighters prepare for battle with IS

 BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Images of PKK fighters at their military training camp in Iraq

VIDEO: The women taking up arms against IS

BBC News | Europe | World Edition

The BBC has gained exclusive access to a PKK training camp where Yazidi and Kurdish women are learning to fight.

Renegade partridge headbutts Turkish president at mosque opening

 Mashable! by Sam Haysom

LONDON — Whenever animals are used in shows, speeches, or — as in this case — to mark the inauguration of a mosque, there’s the potential for something to go badly wrong.

Turkey’s AKP avoids giving HDP key seats in interim gov’t

The AKP begins drafting plans to prevent the HDP from assuming any interim government role that would involve a national security portfolio

Related posts:

1. As more blood spilled, nationalist MHP leans towards AKP for a war government…
2. Nov. 1 as snap election date proposed and under normal conditions HDP could be Turkey’s 3rd biggest party…
3. Turkey’s war with media goes beyond borders, BBC accused of ‘openly supporting terrorism’
4. Turkey’s new Major General was acquitted of unidentified murders of 13 villagers…
5. After all delaying tactics, coalition talks start today in Turkey…

Vía Erkan’s Field Diary http://ift.tt/1fDzEQ2

Filed under: Uncategorized