Clashes during Turkey local elections kill eight

At least eight people have been killed in clashes between groups supporting rival candidates in Turkey’s local elections.

Security sources said on Sunday that at least six people lost their lives in a gunfight between two families in the village of Yuvacik in the eastern province of Sanliurfa.

Two other people were also killed in a gun battle between the relatives of two candidates in Golbasi village of the Hatay province.

Thirteen people are also said to be wounded in the clashes.

The elections, which have turned into a referendum on the rule of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan after several months of street protests, corruption scandals and Internet blocks, began on Sunday.

Over 50 million eligible voters are set to cast their ballots through the day in mayoral and municipal polls nationwide. The result of the elections particularly in the capital, Ankara, and the city of Istanbul, would have implications for the future of Erdogan as he is expected to run for president in August or even change his ruling party regulations to be able to seek a fourth term as prime minister next year.

The Turkish premier has been rallying support for candidates from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the past several weeks amid the political crisis in the deeply polarized country.

The conflict began with a police crackdown in June 2013 against protesters in Istanbul’s Gezi Park which led to weeks of street clashes. Eight people were killed and thousands injured in the skirmishes.

Meanwhile in December, destructive online leaks came, with bribery and sleaze allegations against Erdogan’s inner circle, leading to several cabinet resignations.

The Erdogan administration in response launched internet restrictions, including blocking Twitter and YouTube. The move sparked protests from human rights organizations and the European Union.

Erdogan has repeatedly accused rival cleric Fethullah Gulen, based in the United States, and his followers of being behind recent social media leaks and wiretaps as well as a graft investigation.