'Terrorist' blast kills dozens in Istanbul
At least 16 people have been killed in Turkey's capital Istanbul
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Monday, 28, Jul 2008 03:21
At least 17 people have been killed and over 150 injured in two explosions in Turkey's capital Istanbul.
The blasts took place on Sunday night in what local officials are describing as a 'terrorist attack'.
The first explosion occurred in a bin in the Gungoren area of the city. The second then occurred as crowds gathered to view the scene.
Turkey's president Abdullah Gul claimed the explosions showed "the ruthlessness of terrorism".
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts. Security services, however, are quoted as saying the attacks resemble the actions of Kurdish rebels.
The attacks comes as Turkey's constitutional court meets to consider whether the ruling AK Party should be banned.
The party is accused of anti-secular activities and wanting to create an Islamist state by stealth.
The AKP won a huge poll victory last year and claims the allegations are an attack on democracy.
Reuters news agency reports that prime minister Tayyip Erdogan has cancelled a weekly cabinet meeting to visit the site of the blasts today.