Turkey: First ruling AK Party election rally on Friday

By Serhat Zafer

SIVAS, Turkey (AA) - Turkey’s president and ruling party leader will kick off campaign rallies for the March 31 local elections on Friday, according to officials.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president and ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party leader, will hold his first rally in the historic central province of Sivas, said the local governor on Wednesday.

"We’ve been expecting the 100th anniversary of the Sivas Congress to be joyous and exciting," Salih Ayhan told reporters, adding that Erdogan’s rally would commemorate the day the decisions known as the National Pact -- which fundamentally shaped the course of the Turkish War of Independence -- were taken.

An opening ceremony will double as a campaign rally for Erdogan.

Turkey is gearing up for the local polls, held every five years, with 13 political parties taking part this year.

Turkish citizens are set to elect some 1,398 mayors across the country.

Among them are 30 municipalities in 81 provinces and 921 district municipalities.

Voters will also elect municipal council members as well as other local leaders.