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3rd LD: Six wounded in explosions at Turkish opposition party buildings

Xinhua, May 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least six people were wounded in two explosions at buildings of the People's Democratic Party (HDP) in south Turkey on Monday.

The simultaneous blasts occurred in the local headquarters of the pro-Kurdish HDP in the Adana and Mersin provinces, private Dogan news agency reported.

Explosive devices were reportedly planted in a package and a flower bouquet.

HDP blamed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the attack, but Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who chairs the AKP, and other government officials condemned the blasts.

"The attacks' responsibility belongs to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other AKP members," HDP said in a statement.

Davutoglu, the prime minister, said "no power will be able to prevent the HDP from converging with the Turkish nation."

Culture Minister Omer Celik also condemned the blasts as an "attack against the election process."

"An attack on a political party is an attack on all parties and democracy," Celik said. "This attack was organized against the HDP, all other parties and the election process."

HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas planned to hold a campaign rally in Mersin on Monday, ahead of the June 7 general elections.

Approximately 56 million Turkish voters are eligible to cast their ballots to elect 550 members of national parliament.

The pro-Kurdish HDP has been targeted by Turkish nationalists opposing the Kurdish peace process, with its offices being attacked more than 60 times in several provinces.

The HDP and the AKP have been conducting negotiations to end 30 years of bloody fighting between Turkish army and Kurdish militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). Endit