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Thousands protest PKK terror attacks in Turkey

Xinhua, December 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Thousands of people across Turkey on Sunday gathered in rallies condemning the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorism in the wake of recent deadly attacks, local NTV reported.

The protests came after a suicide car bomb attack on Saturday left 14 soldiers dead and 55 others wounded in the central province of Kayseri.

One week ago, twin bombings claimed by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK), PKK's affiliated organization, killed 44 people in Istanbul.

In Diyarbakir, the largest city in the southeast, people demonstrated in the central Yenisehir district despite the cold weather and marched in the streets holding Turkish flags.

In Hakkari, around 3,000 people in Yuksekova district took to the streets to protest the PKK group.

Hundreds of people in Cukurca, another district of Hakkari, also condemned the attacks and chanted anti-PKK slogans.

Bordering Iraq, Cukurca district usually suffers from intense clashes between security forces and PKK terrorists since the latter use the region to cross the Turkish border from its camps in northern Iraq.

Another rally was held in the town of Cizre near Syria, where locals were joined by others from adjacent towns of Silopi, Idil and provincial center Sirnak.

Southeastern Sirnak, Mardin and Sanliurfa provinces saw local residents and NGOs gather at streets and squares to protest the PKK terrorism.

Thousands of others also gathered in eastern Elazig, Erzurum and Kars provinces to condemn the PKK's attacks on civilians, security forces and soldiers.

Meanwhile, at least 15 Turkish leading business organizations on Sunday strongly condemned and expressed sorrow in a joint statement over the deadly terror attack in Kayseri, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

"Our country is passing through a very critical process... All of the terrorist organizations are targeting our country at the same time," read the joint written statement.

"We are all united against terror attacks. We will not break apart, we will unite," the statement said.

Top representatives from 15 Turkish business organizations visited Kayseri to voice their condolences with local people, according to the statement.

Turkish Industry and Business Association said in a separate statement that the terror attacks aimed at destroying the peace of the Turkish people by creating a climate of fear in the country.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey. Endit