Diyarbakir dream for Turkey's AKP: pro-Kurdish DTP

"Some may dream of winning Diyarbakir. We do not have the slightest concern for the city. We will be stronger than we were in the July 22 local elections," DTP leader Ahmet Turk told TDN.

Prime Minister and the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Tayyip Erdogan, has repeatedly claimed that his party would surpass the DTP in Diyarbakir -- usually considered a DTP bastion -- in the March 2009 local elections. Erdogan also wants to take other southeastern DTP strongholds such as Tunceli, Sirnak, and Batman.

The AKP plans to overwhelm these cities with its election campaign, focusing on economic growth and welfare in the face of major DTP figures such as Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir who emphasize Kurdish politics.

As he defied Erdogan on Diyarbakir, Turk left the door open for an election alliance to capture Izmir, the fortress of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

"There are many Kurdish voters in Izmir. We have a significant vote potential in Izmir that may change the fate of Izmir. This may have an impact on the municipality. We will come up with a formula," Turk said.

Photo: Fahir Arikan