Opposition parties condemn Istanbul suicide bombing

ISTANBUL

CHP Deputy Leader Selin Sayek Böke speaks to reporters. AA photo

Turkey’s three opposition parties represented in parliament have condemned a suicide bomb attack that killed at least five people in central Istanbul on March 19 and wounded 36 others, including foreign nationals.

“We strongly condemn terrorism and call on everybody who have left Turkey on the lap of terrorism to take responsibility,” said Selin Sayek Böke, deputy leader and spokeswoman of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

“We ask again, who is responsible for taking this path that took Turkey into a terror swamp. We do not want to hear big words on terror fight anymore, we want immediate measures that will secure our citizens,” she added in a veiled criticism of the government.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a Kurdish problem-focused party often slammed by the ruling party officials for its alleged links to the PKK, condemned the bombing. 

"Just as in the Ankara attack, this is a terrorist act that directly targets civilians," the HDP said in a written statement. "Whoever carried out this attack, it is unacceptable and inexcusable."

Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) called for solidarity. 

“Whatever happens, the Turkish nation has the power to stand up and overcome terrorism,” Bahçeli said in his statement.

“The traitors will fail, they will not be able to destroy our national unity and brotherhood,” he added.