'Turkey's CHP to keep backing anti-terror fight'

By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader said on Tuesday his party would continue to support the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in fighting terrorism.

"We need to show a national stance against terrorism. We are fed up with terrorism," Kemal Kilicdaroglu said during a visit to tradesmen in the capital of Ankara. "We'll save this country from terrorism together."

Kilicdaroglu's statement comes after three Turkish soldiers were martyred and five others injured earlier Tuesday during an operation against PKK terrorists in southeastern Sirnak province.

Saying that Turkey needed now a peaceful political rhetoric to overcome the ongoing challenges in the country, he stated that using the right language was a must for the ruling governments.

Kilicdaroglu also rejected the statements that those who are not in favor of the upcoming referendum, were terrorists.

"This is not a fight but a referendum. We'll talk, discuss, come together and then make our decisions on April 16," he said. "Each of my friends, every politician should watch his tongue."

During an Istanbul rally last February, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim had called the Turkish nation to say Yes to the referendum as all terrorist groups were in favor of No.

"Why do we say yes? We say yes because PKK says no. We say yes because FETO [Fetullah Terrorist Organization] says no. We say yes because HDP [Peoples' Democratic Party] says no. Look at the No voters and decide," he had said.

A firm opponent of the proposed referendum and the amendments, Kilicdaroglu said that they were not calling on anyone to vote in a particular way, and reiterated that they would respect Yes and No voters alike.

However, he claimed that changing the constitution would direct the 80 million in Turkey towards an indefinable direction. He added that a president should be objective as he represented the whole nation and not only a particular segment of the society.

The constitutional changes have been discussed since Erdogan was voted president in August 2014.

The 18-article bill was passed by parliament in January, with 339 votes in favor -- nine more than needed to put the proposal to a referendum. The reforms would hand wide-ranging executive powers to the president and the post of prime minister would be abolished.

The president would also be allowed to retain ties to a political party. Other changes would see the minimum age for parliamentary candidates reduced to 18 and the number of deputies rise to 600.

Simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for a five-year term would be held in November 2019 under the new constitution.

Reporting by Baris Gundogan; Writing by Esra Kayak