ANKARA, (Sputnik) – Demonstrators in the mainly Kurdish city continue clashing with police, who are said to have used water cannons and tear gas, according to CNN Turk.
#Turkey: Youth react during clashes between Turkish police & Kurds in Diyarbakir after election results by @Kilicbil pic.twitter.com/XMJyeBNZ9P
— Talar Kalajian (@TalarKala) November 1, 2015
With all but 1 percent of the votes counted, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is ahead with 49.4 percent. The showing gives AKP 316 out of 550 seats in Turkey’s Grand National Assembly, and allows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to form a single-party cabinet.
It's tense in central Diyarbakir. Can't help but remember celebration by HDP supporters at this very spot 7 June. pic.twitter.com/DlqRg3EEJw
— Ayla Albayrak (@aylushka_a) November 1, 2015
The Republican People's Party (CHP) is currently gaining 25.3 percent of the votes, followed by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) with 11.9 percent. The Pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) has also passed the 10-percent threshold to be represented in the parliament.
Prime Minister and AKP leader Ahmet Davutoglu addressed supporters in the Anatolia city of Konya earlier, thanking them for the support "in the most difficult times."
Disappointment and anger in #Diyarbakir. One retired teacher says: I feel heartbroken. They steal and kill and still win. #turkeyelections
— Constanze Letsch (@ConstanzeLetsch) November 1, 2015
Turkey has been rocked by a series of deadly terrorist attacks since July, prompting the country to launch a two-front campaign against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in northern Syria and militant Kurdish separatist in southeast Turkey.
