- The Media Line - https://themedialine.org -

Protesters Attack Leader Of Turkey’s Main Political Opposition Party

Protesters attacked the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party during the funeral of a soldier killed in clashes with members of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Footage aired on television showed people striking Kemal Kilicdaroglu on the head as security officials attempted to escort him away from the scene. The attack comes after Kilicdaroglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) won control over Ankara and Istanbul in March 31 local elections. The victory was viewed as a major blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party. Erdogan was front and center in the divisive campaign, during which he equated opposition parties with terrorists. The soldier was among four killed this weekend in clashes with the PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency geared towards achieving Kurdish autonomy in parts of Turkey.