Turkish opposition leader condemns Russian envoy murder

ANKARA

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader said "abettors rather than murderers should be found," following Monday’s assassination of Moscow’s ambassador in Ankara, Andrey Karlov.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu expressed his condolences to "the friendly nation of Russia" and the family of Karlov.

Addressing party members at the Turkish parliament on Tuesday, Kilicdaroglu said the circumstances behind the murder "had to be unveiled" as soon as possible.

"We do not want any foreigners to be assassinated in our country. It is the honor of the Turkish Republic to protect them," he said.

Karlov was shot dead on Monday evening as he attended an opening ceremony at an art gallery in the Turkish capital Ankara.

The ambassador was delivering a speech when the assailant opened fire on the diplomat before shooting into the air, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent who witnessed the incident.

Karlov was seriously wounded and immediately taken to Guven Hospital in the capital’s Cankaya district, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police special forces neutralized the assailant -- a 22-year-old Turkish riot police officer called Mevlut Mert Altintas -- in an operation that lasted around 15 minutes.

Kilicdaroglu said the assailant's being a policeman is worth stressing.

Just before the CHP leader’s remarks, Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) head, Devlet Bahceli, also said it was noteworthy that the attack was carried out by a police officer.

Bahceli called the assassination "a terrorist attack" and offered his condolences to the Russian people and state.

In a statement, he said: "I believe that the bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia are so deep-rooted that they cannot be made a victim of terrorism."

Both leaders praised the efforts of Karlov, saying he had worked to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.

Reporting by Kadir Karakus; Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atilgan