Turkish premier: Opposition HDP severely harmed Kurds

By Mumin Altas

KARS, Turkey (AA) - Premier Binali Yildirim on Thursday accused the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) of receiving orders from the PKK terror group's headquarters in Mt. Qandil in northern Iraq.

Speaking at an election rally in eastern Kars province, Yildirim criticized HDP for maintaining ties with the PKK.

"The harm HDP did to the Kurds is innumerable," he said.

He said the HDP has been unable to become a political party and failed to rescue itself from the "captivity of PKK".

"They are receiving votes and support from you, my Kurdish brothers, but they receive orders from Qandil," Yildirim said.

He also said foreign imperial powers have a plan against Turkey and the region.

According to that alleged plan, such powers are trying to establish a state with the blood of Kurds, he said.

However, Kurds and Turks are brothers and they remain united, he added.

Yildirim requested from the people of Kars to not support electoral candidates who take orders from Mt. Qandil.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people.

More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children, have been killed since July 2015 alone when the group resumed its armed campaign against the country.