At least 95 dead in twin Ankara blasts

At least 95 people were killed on Saturday in twin explosions targeting a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara, the health minister said.

The attack also left 246 wounded, 48 of whom are in intensive care, according to an updated toll announced by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office.

Eyewitnesses told AFP several corpses were seen lying on the ground after the blasts targeted activists gathering for the peace rally organised by leftist and pro-Kurdish groups, reported AFP.

Initial reports said one huge explosion had gone off but Turkish media later reported two separate blasts in quick succession.

The cause of the explosions, which occurred outside Ankara’s train station at 10 am, remains unclear, the ministry said, adding that it had launched an investigation.

The authorities were exploring the possibility that the blasts could have been caused by a suicide bomber, a government official told the Anatolia news agency.

"We are investigating the explosion and will share our findings with the public as soon as possible," a Turkish official told AFP, without giving further details.

Demonstrators formed a human chain around the attacked area and laid out scores of lifeless bodies in front of the station.

The area was to host a peace rally organised by leftist groups later in the day, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). 

The demonstrators covered the dead bodies with flags of unions, political parties and civilian organizations that planned to participate in the “Labor, Peace and Democracy” march, reported the Washington Post. 

Turkish officials condemn attack

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the “heinous attack” that rocked the Turkish capital.

"I strongly condemn this heinous attack on our unity and our country's peace," Erdogan said in a statement posted on the presidency's website.

Also condemning the attack, spokesman for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Omer Celik said: “This is a highly provocative action aimed at sabotaging the election process.”

After being briefed by Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu convened an emergency security meeting with cabinet members, top security and intelligence officials.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaorglu also condemned the attack, saying Turkey did not deserve this, and announcing that his party has cancelled all events on Saturday, reported the Turkish Daily Hurriyet.

The blasts came against a backdrop of violence that has gripped Turkey since the breakdown of the Kurdish peace process in July and as the country edges closer to elections scheduled for 1 November.

PKK announces unilateral ceasefire

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Saturday declared a "state of inactivity" after months of attacks in Turkey, pledging to suspend all offensive actions ahead of the November polls. 

"Heeding calls from Turkey and abroad, our movement has decided on a state of inactivity by our guerillas, unless our people and our guerilla forces are attacked," Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), an umbrella movement that includes the PKK, said in a statement.

"During this process, our guerilla forces will refrain from carrying out planned activities, will not engage in any kind of activity apart from preserving its current position and make no attempts to hinder or harm the exercise of a fair and equal election," it said. 

There had been suggestions that the PKK was to announce a new ceasefire to help the HDP boost its score in the upcoming polls, with Kurdish media reporting that PKK commanders were expected to announce the ceasefire on Sunday.

According to member of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) foreign affairs committee, Erdelan Baran, the announcement is not a new development. 

"The PKK has been calling on the government to agree on a ceasefire for more the two weeks, saying it is impossible to carry out elections in these conditions," Baran told MEE. 

Fighting resumed between the militant PKK and government forces after the collapse of a two-year ceasefire in July.

Over 140 members of the security forces have since been killed, while Ankara claims to have killed more than 1,700 Kurdish militants in a relentless bombing campaign.