Turkey’s opposition parties condemn Ankara blast

ANKARA

Forensic experts arrive near the site last night's explosion in Ankara, Turkey, February 18, 2016. REUTERS photo

The leaders of Turkey’s opposition parties have condemned a car bomb attack targeting shuttles carrying military personnel in Ankara that killed 28 people and wounded 61 others. 

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said he “cursed” the attack, adding that “dark forces” behind the blast would fail to overcome the nation’s solidarity and sense of unity. 

“The Turkish Republic and all our citizens will stand against the fulfilment of the aim of this attack with determination,” he said.

Kılıçdaroğlu also called on related institutions to shed light on all aspects of the attack in detail.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head Devlet Bahçeli “strongly condemned” the Ankara blast, which he defined as “hostile and barbaric.”

“Turkey, as a whole, is under the threat of terror, murder and aims leading to disaster,” Bahçeli said, adding that the “mighty nation” would not surrender to terror by any means. 

“The Turkish Republic is powerful enough to spoil this inhumane and vile game that targets human lives,” he said.

Bahçeli also called on the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to use “all powers of the state” to punish “terrorists and their supporters,” and identify the “dark forces” behind the attack. 

Meanwhile, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş condemned the “merciless” attack through a statement posted on his Twitter account.

“I condemn the merciless attack in Ankara and wish God’s mercy upon those who lost their lives,” Demirtaş said, while extending his condolences to the victims’ families.