Off the wire
• Four nations U-17 soccer tournament to kick off in Namibia  • Teenager Chi claims first ever cross-country Olympic medal for China at Lillehammer YOG  • Turkish PM says Syrian national linked to Turkish militants behind Ankara attack  • Air strikes kill 4 suspected militants in east Afghanistan  • China sends sick soldier home from escort mission in Somali waters  • Bangladesh, Malaysia ink accord on recruitment of 1.5 mln workers  • Urgent: Morocco says foils IS attack, arrests 10 people  • 1st LD: Gunmen attack UN base in S. Sudan, at least 7 dead  • Weather forecast for world cities -- Feb. 18  • Liberia lauds ties with China  
You are here: 　 Home

Kurdish party denies responsibility in Ankara bombing

Xinhua, February 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) on Thursday denied Turkish accusations that Kurdish militants were behind the suicide bombing in Ankara on Wednesday that killed at least 28 people.

Salih Muslim Muhammad, a PYD co-chairman, said the Islamic State (IS) group was responsible for the Ankara attack, which also injured 61 others.

He was responding to an announcement earlier Thursday by Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that identified a Syrian national with "direct links" to PYD as the suicide bomber in the Ankara blast.

Davutoglu also said the bomber, Salih Necer, received logistical support from the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey.

The Ankara bombing and the subsequent accusations and denials came amid mounting tension between Turkey and the Kurds.

Turkish artillery has been shelling Kurdish fighters' positions in northern Syria to prevent them from advancing near the Turkish borders. Endit