Turkey: Opposition meets Inter-Parliamentary Union head

ANKARA

The co-leader of Turkey's opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) on Tuesday met the head of a global inter-parliamentary body.

Speaking prior to the closed-door meeting in the capital Ankara, Pervin Buldan said she would discuss Turkish internal politics with the visiting head of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Underlining that several HDP lawmakers remained imprisoned in the country, Buldan added she would convey their situation to Barron.

"We [the HDP] are facing many issues within our politics in Turkey and are persistently struggling against these problems," she said.

Turkey’s government accuses the HDP of being linked to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.

The IPU is a global organization of national parliaments, which works with legislators from 179 member countries as well as those of country blocs including the European Parliament and Arab Parliament.