ANKARA (CIHAN) - The Turkish government lashed out fiercely at statements from the pro-Kurdish DEHAP chairman Tuncer Bakirhan and freed ex-MP Leyla Zana.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the DEHAP chairman of putting the illegal terror organization on the same ground as the Turkish government.
Erdogan said that the recent rise in terror attacks in Turkey is not related to the ceasefire halt but it is a continuation of the PKK`s terrorist activities. The Justice and Development Party chairman Erdogan said that his government would stand firm against terror. Erdogan said that a joint platform should be formed to fight against terrorism.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said that a terror organization fighting against Turkey could not be legitimate. Sahin criticized Leyla Zana who called on the PKK to observe its unilateral ceasefire 6-more months. "These remarks are very unfortunate and hurt the conscious of the Turkish public."
Minister Sahin said that democracy in Turkey could not be consolidated with clinched fists. Sahin hoped that the former DEP deputies learned the necessary lessons that terrorism is never successful.