ARN News Centre

Turkey replaces three mayors for suspected militant links

Monday, 19 August 2019 13:47

Turkey has replaced mayors in three southeastern cities and detained more than 400 people for suspected militant links on Monday.

The mayors in Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van cities are accused of being members of militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) group and spreading their propaganda, the country's Interior Ministry announced.

"For the health of the investigations, they have been temporarily removed from their posts as a precaution," the ministry statement read.

Ahead of nationwide local elections in March, President Tayyip Erdogan had warned of such a move against elected officials if they were found to have connections with the PKK.

More from International

At least 9 killed in hotel fire in India's Kolkata

At least nine people have been killed, including a child, in a fire at a hotel in India's eastern city of Kolkata on Wednesday, local police said.
Ebola cases in Congo exceed 5,000, government data shows

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo now exceeds 5,000, government data has showed late on Tuesday, as health officials warn that response efforts are failing to contain the deadly disease.
8 Israeli airstrikes hit Syria's Abu al-Duhur airbase, state TV reports

Eight Israeli airstrikes have hit the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northwestern Syria early on Tuesday, targeting the runway and storage facilities, Syria's state-run Ekhbariya said, citing a military source.
Indonesia earthquake death toll rises to 70, government aid arrives

The death toll from the powerful 7.7-magnitude quake that struck Indonesia last Saturday has risen to 70.
China's torrential rains kill 10 in southwest as thousands evacuated

Torrential rains have killed 10 people in China's southwest following a house collapse and a landslide, state broadcaster CCTV said on Wednesday, with tens of thousands also evacuated as a precaution.