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Turkey in Deep Grief and Concern - Anger over Twin Blasts
Feelings of deep grief, fear and insecurity prevail in Turkey after double bomb attack on Sunday evening, in the Gungoren district, in Konstantinopolis killing 18 people, among them 4 children.
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Security forces have arrested tens of suspects while Prime-minister Tayip Erdogan has called the Turkish people –who are concerned over liquidity in the political scene linked to a long-running power struggle between Turkey’s secularist establishment and the Islamist-rooted AK Party- to keep their unity.
Authorities have placed Kurdish rebels at the top of the list of suspects while the Kurdish Workers’ party denies any involvement. The blasts occurred only a few hours before the Constitutional Court was set to look whether to shut down the ruling AK party for Islamist activities.
Turkish President, Abdullah Gul described the blast as terrorist action while no organization has claimed responsibility so far.
Double Attack
As per a preliminary investigation, the first bomb exploded in a refuse bin in a commercial street in Gungoren district, Constantinople.
The second blast, which was stronger, followed a few minutes later, while the people began gathering around the spot of the first blast.
The Constantinople governor stated that the police would examine the scenes depicted from the open-air cameras in the area.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayiip Erdogan has appealed for unity today, adding that the problem is not whether the AKP will be suspended.
Karamanlis-Bakoyannis Letters. International Reactions
In is letter to his Turkish counterpart, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has expressed his condolences on yesterday's blasts inConstantinople, expressing his sympathy to the families of the victims.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis expresses her repugnance for the new terror attack in a letter to her Turkish counterpart, as well as the Greek people's condolences to the families of the victims.
In parallel, in a written announcement, the EU condemns the bomb blasts, while German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday condemned the double blast, describing it "a blind act of terrorism."
Constitutional Court Convenes
Turkey’s highest court has convened to decide whether the country’s ruling party should be banned on charges that it is steering the secular nation towards Islamic rule.
Turkish politicians, the EU and foreign investors are anxiously expecting the court’s ruling on the case that has forced Turkey into political instability, affecting the market and leading the reforms to stagnation.
If the AKP party is banned the elections will be held next November, a development that will minimize Turkey’s hopes for a fast accession to the EU.
In parallel, the above case has caused friction between the pro-Islamist government and militaries, academicians and judiciaries.
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