Europe

EU concerned over politicians' detention in Turkey

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Police use water cannons against pro-Kurdish Peoples's Democratic Party members as they protest the detention of Gultan Kisanak, Diyarbakir Mayor, and co-mayor Firat Anli, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Turkish police on Wednesday used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of demonstrators protesting the detentions of two leading politicians in the largest city in the country's mainly-Kurdish southeast. About a thousand people gathered outside the Diyarbakir municipality to demand the release of Kisanak and Anli, who were taken into custody late Tuesday as part of a terrorism investigation.(AP Photo/Mahmut Bozarslan) (The Associated Press)

Police use water cannon against pro-Kurdish Peoples's Democratic Party members as they protest against the detention of Gultan Kisanak, Diyarbakir Mayor, and co-mayor Firat Anli, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Turkish police on Wednesday used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of demonstrators protesting the detentions of two leading politicians in the largest city in the country's mainly-Kurdish southeast. About a thousand people gathered outside the Diyarbakir municipality to demand the release of Kisanak and Anli, who were taken into custody late Tuesday as part of a terrorism investigation.(AP Photo/Mahmut Bozarslan) (The Associated Press)

Police officers detain a pro-Kurdish Peoples's Democracy Party member as he protests against the detention of Gultan Kisanak, Diyarbakir Mayor, and co-mayor Firat Anli, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Turkish police on Wednesday used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hundreds of demonstrators protesting the detentions of two leading politicians in the largest city in the country's mainly-Kurdish southeast. About a thousand people gathered outside the Diyarbakir municipality to demand the release of Kisanak and Anli, who were taken into custody late Tuesday as part of a terrorism investigation.(AP Photo/Mahmut Bozarslan) (The Associated Press)

Top European Union officials have voiced concern over the detention of two leading political figures in the largest city in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a statement Wednesday that Turkey must respect rule of law as it deals with the security threat posed by Kurdish militants. "A political solution is the only viable option," the statement said.

Diyarbakir mayor Gultan Kisanak and Firat Anli, who serves as co-mayor, were detained Tuesday as part of a terrorism investigation. They are members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party or HDP.

The government accuses the HDP of being the political wing of the Kurdish militant group PKK. The party denies the accusation.

The HDP has called for protests to denounce the detentions but the Diyarbakir governor's office said the demonstration will not be allowed.