Fire opened at Turkish main opposition CHP leader’s motorcade

Fire has been opened on the motorcade of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader in the Savsat district of the Black Sea province of Artvin, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

The bodyguards of the CHP leader fired back at the attackers, Turkish sources say.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu was kept in his car for security while police and the assailants engaged in an armed clash.

However, an adviser for Kilicdaroglu said it was not an armed attack targeting the CHP leader but a result of clashes erupted in the region.

Kilicdaroglu was heading back to the city center, where he was for his party’s program.

Kilicdarogluu told private broadcaster CNN Türk via telephone that they had been taken out of the clash zone by security forces.

“We are in a safe place but clashes are continuing. I hope no security personel will be hurt,” he said.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS