Turkish ministers should resign after Ankara blasts: Opposition

Turkey’s main opposition party has called for the resignation of the country's justice and interior ministers following bomb blasts that claimed the lives of at least 95 people in Ankara.

During a Wednesday meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said that Justice Minister Kenan Ipek, who was accused of smirking  shortly after the deadly incident, should resign.

On Saturday, twin explosions targeted activists who had convened outside Ankara's main train station for a peace rally organized by pro-Kurdish opposition groups.

Portrait of smiling minister

Social media users denounced a picture that went viral showing the chief political official in charge of the country’s security while he was “smiling” during a press conference merely hours after the blast. The screen grab drew wide condemnation as viewers said it showed Ipek’s lax stance on the tragic event.

“The sight of the justice minister [smiling at the reporter's question] is startling,” said Kılıçdaroğlu. “The society is going through a severe trauma and meanwhile the justice minister is smiling. The justice minister cannot remain in his office.”   

According to Kılıçdaroğlu, the prime minister stated that he would decide over the matter after receiving a report on Ipek’s conduct.

Meanwhile, CHP Deputy Chairman Haluk Koç called for the immediate resignation of Interior Minister Selami Altınok, citing he was not able to carry out responsibilities..

During a press conference on Saturday, Altınok was asked how multiple bombers were able the gain entry to the rally with the presence of police who were carrying out thorough checks on people.

Altınok replied by dismissing notions that police had failed to carry out sufficient security measures.

Koç added that if Altınok refrains from resigning, he should be dismissed by the prime minister.

He also said that Altınok is on a secret mission and that until the government reveals all the facts concerning the blasts, people and politicians have the right to think what they like about it.

Daesh or PKK?

Davutoğlu has suggested the culprits behind the attacks are either Daesh Takfiri militants or the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"For some time, we have been receiving intelligence information based from some PKK and Daesh statements that certain suicide attackers would be sent to Turkey... and that through these attackers chaos would be created in Turkey," he said. "The PKK or Daesh could emerge (as culprits) of today's terror event."

The terrorist attack has turned the country into a stage for multiple protests and demonstration against the government.

Clashes have broken out among police forces and angry protesters in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. Demonstrators also gathered on the streets of Ankara where they rallied near the scene of the blasts.

On Saturday, around 10,000 people took to the streets in Istanbul blaming Turkish authorities for the deadly attacks. Some of the protesters were carrying placards reading “The state is a killer” and “We know the murderers.”

Selahattin Demirtaş, the co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), said at a Sunday gathering that he was “sorry” over the incident. "They all came to Ankara with hope for peace, but we couldn't protect them," he told the crowd. "We are sorry for that, and we are sending them back home in coffins. But we will stand tall, we will continue singing our songs of freedom and dancing our halays [a type of folk dance]."

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