Opposition Leader Claims Erdogan Armed 'Islamic State'

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party has claimed that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is responsible for arming the militants of the self-proclaimed 'Islamic State'.



Kilicdaroglu arrived in Istanbul on Friday afternoon to visit several neighborhoods to promote the election of Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, a joint presidential candidate.



The party leader spoke to the press at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport. Addressing the elections and issues on the national agenda, making harsh allegations against Prime Minister Erdogan. Kilicdaroglu claimed that weapons being used by the militants belonging to the group 'Islamic State' were sent to Syria on orders from the prime minister.



 The group formerly called 'Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant', known as ISIL, now claims to control of the border region between Syria and Iraq.



"The whole world considers this group as a terrorist organization, yet the weapons in their hands were issued by Erdogan. Even though they have captured 49 Turkish citizens, he hasn't raised his voice against them, criticized them or reacted. He is only concerned with causing difficulty for [Ihsanoglu]," said Kilicdaroglu.



The member of parliament for Istanbul said his opposition Republican People's Party "wants peace in the Middle East".



Kilicdaroglu also dismissed opinion polls which suggest that Erdogan will win the presidency, saying "polls are published showing over 50 percent support, and then under 30 percent. How can one trust these? This is the norm from the AK Party's friends. None of these polls suggesting more than 50 percent support can be trusted."



Kilicdaroglu went on to tour the poorer neighborhoods around Zeytinburnu and call upon locals to vote in the presidential election scheduled for August 10.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara