Turkey pro-Kurdish leaders Demirtas and Yuksekdag detained

The two co-leaders of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition party have been detained along with other MPs.

Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag were detained at their respective homes as part of a counter-terrorism inquiry, security sources quoted by Anadolu news agency said.

At least nine other MPs from the People’s Democracy Party (HDP) were also taken into custody.

Yuksekdag and Demirtas face prosecution under anti-terrorism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year, along with other lawmakers from Turkey’s main political parties.

Hours later, there were reports of a massive explosion in southeast Turkey.

Ambulances were sent to the scene of the blast in Diyarbakir, the city where Mr Demirtas was arrested.

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