adminANKARA. — Eight people were killed and 18 others injured yesterday in clashes amid the ongoing local elections in southern Turkey, private Dogan News Agency reported. Two people died and nine others were wounded when they were fighting for the election of neighbourhood units in Golbasi village of Kirikhan town of southern Hatay province, according to the report.
Six others were killed and five wounded in a gunfight between candidates for neighbourhood units and their relatives in southern Hilvan town of southern Sanliurfa province.
The report also said that an 18-year-old substance-addicted man injured four members of the ruling Justice and Development Party ( AKP) in a knife attack in southern Gaziantep province of Turkey yesterday, as voting for local elections continue in the country.
The Higher Election Board (YSK) has announced that a total of 52 695831 people are eligible for voting at a total of 177 044 polling stations in 81 provinces throughout Turkey.
Security measures have been tightened against possible incidents.
The voting started at 7 am local time (0500 GMT) in eastern provinces of Turkey and will end at 4 pm (1400 GMT). In the western part of the country voting is between 8am (0600 GMT) and 5pm (1500 GMT).
Twenty-six parties, including the ruling AKP, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party, are competing in the local elections.
The voters will cast their ballots for mayors, administrators of district and provincial municipalities, and provincial city council members.
In the two main provinces of Ankara and Istanbul, the race is running between incumbent AKP mayors and challengers from the main opposition CHP.
The AKP, still popular despite a shake-up, is expected to embrace the local polls as the first party, local daily Sabah reported.
The AKP received 39,1 percent of votes in the 2009 local elections and 49,9 percent in national elections in 2011. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter