Election In Siirt Cancelled

ANKARA - Higher Election Board (YSK) cancelled on Monday the elections held in southeastern Siirt province on Nov.3 2002.
Issuing a written statement following the YSK meeting, YSK said that ''the Board decided unanimously that the deficiency in election procedures necessitated re-holding of the elections in southeastern Siirt province.''
AK Party requested the cancellation of the elections in Siirt alleging in its application to the Board that three ballot councils were not formed and one ballot box was broken in Pervari town of Siirt.
Following the decision of the Higher Election Board the new elections will be held after 60 days following the publication of the decision in the Official Gazette.
The decision of the Board will be immediately published in the Official Gazette so that the elections can be held as soon as possible. The elections are expected to be held on February 2, 2003, Sunday.
AK Party deputy Mervan Gul, CHP deputy Ekrem Bilk and independent deputy Mehmet Fadil Akgunduz were elected from Siirt in the elections on Nov. 3.
Meanwhile, YSK Acting Chairman Ahmet Hamdi Unlu told reporters that the membership of three deputies to the parliament will terminate due to the decision of the Board.
FIRAT: WE HOPE OUR LEADER ERDOGAN CAN BE ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT
AK Party deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat said on Monday that ''we hope that the decision of the Higher Election Board to cancel the elections in Siirt will open the way for our leader Mr. Erdogan to become a member of the parliament and then the prime minister.''
Firat told A.A that the legal status of Erdogan is a shame on democracy, adding that ''the cancellation of the elections in Siirt can end this shame.''
AK Party parliamentary group deputy chairman Salih Kapusuz said in his part that if the impediment that stands in front of Erdogan's candidacy is lifted, he can run candidacy from Siirt province.
BAGCILAR PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SENDS LETTER TO HIGHER ELECTION BOARD ABOUT LEGAL STATUS OF AKGUNDUZ
Bagcilar Prosecutor's Office which carries out an investigation about the claims against Siirt independent deputy Fadil Akgunduz, who is accused of fraud, sent a letter to Higher Election Board asking for clarification of the legal status of Akgunduz.
If the Board announces that the membership of Akgunduz to the parliament terminates, then the Prosecutor's Office can file a suit against Akgunduz requesting his imprisonment.