CHP leader urges PM Davuto?lu to prove authority by dismissing ministers over Ankara attack

Republican People?s Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu has called on Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu to take the initiative to dismiss or force the resignation of Turkey?s justice and interior ministers over security failures before the double suicide bombing killed at least 97 people in Ankara on Oct. 10. 

?Davuto?lu needs to use his own will,? K?l?çdaro?lu said on Oct. 14, stressing that Davuto?lu now had a chance to prove himself and make his own decisions without appealing to President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an for consulation. 

?You are the prime minister, you should act a little independently of him. Urgently dismiss the two ministers, prove yourself for once,? he said, speaking to a group of journalists en route from Ankara to Gaziantep. 

He was speaking after the Interior Ministry announced on Oct. 13 that it had removed Ankara?s police, intelligence and security chiefs from their posts order to help the investigation into the bombing.

K?l?çdaro?lu said these dismissals were ?not sufficient? and demanded prompt action from Davuto?lu.

?Say ?I?m the prime minister of this country? and prove yourself. I?m saying this because I want to get the constitutional ground settled in Turkey. The prime minister is the responsible authority in this area; the president has no responsibility,? the CHP head said, repeating his criticism that President Erdo?an has been exceeding his constitutional authorities and bypassing Davuto?lu.

?[Dismissal of officials] is not sufficient. The ones who are politically responsible in this matter needs to resign. It is like that in all democracies. And not just in democracies - it is like that in Saudi Arabia too,? K?l?çdaro?lu said, recalling how Saudi Arabia?s King Salman ordered the...