US strongly condemns soucide attack in southeastern Turkey

The United States condemned "in the strongest terms" the terrorist attack against a police headquarters in southeastern Turkey and expressed "steadfast" support for the NATO ally, the White House said Friday.

At least 11 police officers were killed and 78 people were wounded in a bomb attack at a police station in southeastern Turkey on Friday, Dogan News Agency reported.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Turkey, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

If the PKK's responsibility is confirmed, "this is just the latest in a deeply concerning trend of increasing violence by the PKK in Turkey," said Ned Price, spokesperson for the White House's National Security Council.

The spokesperson said the U.S. also condemns the attack on Thursday against the convoy of Republic People's Party chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey's main opposition party.

In a statement published on an affiliated website, the PKK said that it did not target Kilicdaroglu in the attack in the northeastern Turkish province of Artvin.

Price said the U.S. remains "steadfast" in its support for Turkey, a NATO Ally and partner that continues to be afflicted by terrorist attacks indiscriminately targeting both security personnel and civilians.

"We are in close touch with Turkish authorities and reaffirm our commitment to work together with Turkey to confront the evil of terrorism," Price said.

Source : XINHUA