Is it ISIS?

Is it Turkish rightists? I noticed hammers and sickles on some of the flags at the rally.

Blowing up a peace rally ranks right up there on the heinousness scale.

Elections are coming up

http://www.todayszaman.com/national_intellectuals-underline-timing-of-attack-and-lack-of-intelligence_401157.html

Intellectuals underline timing of attack and lack of intelligence

Twin explosion rocked Ankara on Saturday, claiming the lives of at least 86 people and injuring 186.

October 10, 2015, Saturday/ 17:52:26/ SUNDAY'S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL

Intellectuals have taken to social media to react against two explosions that claimed the lives of at least 86 people and injured 186 more in Ankara during a peace rally held on Saturday by several civil society organizations.

The figures were provided by Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu in a press statement issued later in the day.

Journalist and television presenter Sedef Kabaş, who was recently acquitted after being tried over a critical tweet she made, stated in a tweet that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu should resign. “Davutoğlu, who said ‘We have broken the back of the terrorist threats [against Turkey],' should resign right now. We don't want false statements. We care about your actions, not your words!” Kabaş said, using the hashtag #KatilAkp (Murderer AK Party).

Turkish stage and screen actor Haluk Bilginer wrote on his Twitter account: “What kind of a rascal or rascals would bomb a peace rally? Just think about it… Whose purposes does peace not serve? May [God] damn you!”

Criticizing the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), Eser Karakaş, a professor and columnist, wrote: “Somebody in this country must explain to the public MİT's job description. What is the meaning of MİT's existence, if it has no intelligence [about the explosions]?”

Journalist Kadri Gürsel also posted a tweet, saying it is no coincidence the explosions took place during a peace rally on the same day as the terrorist Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) -- an umbrella organization that includes the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- was set to announce its decision to enter a cease-fire.

Bese Hozat, a senior member of the KCK, hinted at a cease-fire to bolster the November election prospects of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which deprived the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) of its single-party majority in a June parliamentary election, in a column in the pro-Kurdish Özgür Gündem daily this week. The column led to speculation that the PKK is preparing to declare a unilateral cease-fire in the upcoming days.

Derya Sazak, the current editor-in-chief of the Yurt daily, addressed several tweets to the government, saying: “If bombs were to explode during a peace rally in the capital of a democratic country and more than 20 people lost their lives, the ruling party would resign! … [These explosions] are a crime against humanity!”

The head of the Union of Active Educators, Osman Bahçe, extended his condolences to the nation via Twitter, saying: “I condemn those behind the terrorism in Ankara. May God rest the souls of those who lost their lives.”

Radikal Editor-in-Chief Eyüp Can Sağlık said: “Rascal provocateurs are at work again. Their goal is to create panic ahead of the [Nov. 1] election. Those who believe in peace won't be deceived [by these provocations].”

“They are setting the county on fire in the middle of Ankara in front of everybody.

Chaos is the only way out for those who are deeply involved in crime,” Zaman Deputy Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Kamış tweeted.

İlber Ortaylı, a leading Turkish historian, also posted a tweet, saying: “No matter who detonated the bombs, the government is responsible. Who was supposed to receive intelligence and take measures about the bombs that exploded in the middle of the capital?”

Criticizing all government officials who do not resign after explosions hit the country, veteran journalist and columnist Nazlı Ilıcak tweeted: “Who can say that the country is being ruled successfully? Let's see whether everybody [all government officials] is to keep their position [as they usually do after similar incidents] after this slaughter?”

Moreover, speaking to the press on Saturday, Ankara Bar Association President Hakan Canduran said the bombs targeted peace. “The real target of the bombs that exploded among the people, who took to the streets to voice their demand for peace, is peace itself. The best response to give these explosions that took place before the [Nov. 1] election is to shout ‘Uncompromisingly for peace' as people killed during the peace rally had shouted,” Canduran said. He also offered his condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed.

http://diplomacy.bgnnews.com/several-countries-and-ngos-condemn-deadly-suicide-bombing-in-ankara-haberi/10154

"I condemn the barbaric attack on peaceful demonstrators in Ankara today. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental pillar of democracy," Thomas Jagland, the secretary general of the top European human rights body, the Council of Europe, said.

In Ankara, both the British Embassy and the U.S. Embassy deplored the attacks in messages swiftly posted to their Twitter account likewise Jagland did.

"We condemn the latest violent attack in Ankara. All of us must stand united against terror," the U.S. Embassy in Turkey said on its official account.

Richard Moore, the British Ambassador to Turkey, preferred to use his personal official Twitter account for voicing his reaction as he said: "Shocked to see scenes at Ankara bombing. Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. My thoughts with wounded and their loved ones. Such terrorism is inhuman and never justified under any circumstances. Having lived through 7/7 bombing in London, now is time for calm and measured response by all."

Putin sends message

The leader of Russia, at odds with Turkey during the recent violation of Turkish airspace during its bombing on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria, also reacted to the Ankara attack.

Kremlin said in a written statement that Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expanding his condolences.

Pakistan, which has deeply-rooted bilateral relations with Turkey, also strongly condemned the attacks which it called as "heinous act of terrorism."

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the brotherly people and government of Turkey and pray for the speediest recovery of those injured in this abhorrent attack. Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations. While reaffirming our abiding support and solidarity for the fraternal Turkish nation in their struggle against terrorism, we are certain that Turkey would overcome this scourge with its characteristic resolve and determination," Pakistan's Embassy in Turkey said in a written statement.

French President Francois Hollande and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both telephoned Erdoğan to offer their condolences to the families of the victims.

thanks for posting