German lawmakers on Wednesday called on the government to consider banning a Turkish ultra-nationalist group known as the Grey Wolves, shortly after France said it would outlaw the group.

MPs in the lower house accused the Grey Wolves, seen as a wing of a party allied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of harbouring a "nationalist and racist ideology".

The MPs backed a motion asking the government to "monitor closely the activities of the movement in Germany and to counter them resolutely by means of our rule of law".

There are around 11,000 Turkish right-wing extremists in Germany, the motion said.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-sparks-turkish-fury-with-plans-to-ban-grey-wolves-nationalist-group-340017">France sparks Turkish fury with plans to ban ‘Grey Wolves’ nationalist group</a>

France announced in early November that it would ban the Grey Wolves after a memorial centre to mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced with graffiti including the name of the group.

The incident came against a background of sharp tension in France between its Armenian and Turkish communities over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In Turkey, the Grey Wolves are closely linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which has a political alliance with Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Grey Wolves are regarded as the militant wing of the MHP and caused havoc on the streets in Turkey during the 1970s and 1980s when its members frequently clashed with leftist activists.

German lawmakers on Wednesday called on the government to consider banning a Turkish ultra-nationalist group known as the Grey Wolves, shortly after France said it would outlaw the group.

German lawmakers on Wednesday called on the government to consider banning a Turkish ultra-nationalist group known as the Grey Wolves, shortly after France said it would outlaw the group. MPs in the lower house accused the Grey Wolves, seen as a wing of a party allied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of harbouring a "nationalist and racist ideology". The MPs backed a motion asking the government to "monitor closely the activities of the movement in Germany and to counter them resolutely by means of our rule of law". There are around 11,000 Turkish right-wing extremists in Germany, the motion said. Also read| France sparks Turkish fury with plans to ban ‘Grey Wolves’ nationalist group France announced in early November that it would ban the Grey Wolves after a memorial centre to mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced with graffiti including the name of the group. The incident came against a background of sharp tension in France between its Armenian and Turkish communities over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. In Turkey, the Grey Wolves are closely linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which has a political alliance with Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP). The Grey Wolves are regarded as the militant wing of the MHP and caused havoc on the streets in Turkey during the 1970s and 1980s when its members frequently clashed with leftist activists.

German MPs urge review of Turkish ultra-nationalist Grey Wolves

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP on Tuesday appealed against results in Istanbul and Ankara following a weekend election after tallies showed the ruling party lost both key cities.

Erdogan's AKP and coalition partner won more than 50 percent of votes nationwide in Sunday's local ballot, but defeat in both Turkey's capital and its economic hub would be a setback after the party's decade and a half in power.

The AKP appeals with electoral authorities, who have two days to decide whether the claims of irregularities have merit, may signal more ruling party challenges to the surprise opposition victories.

"We have filed our objections with the electoral authorities in all 39 districts," AKP's Istanbul chief Bayram Senocak told reporters. "We have identified irregularities and falsifications."

He said the party had found an "excessive" difference between votes cast at ballot stations for their candidate and the data sent to electoral authorities.

Hakan Han Ozcan, AKP's Ankara chairman, told reporters they were also filing an appeal in 25 districts of the capital. Anadolu state news agency said results showed CHP opposition candidate Mansur Yavas with 50.93 percent of votes against 47.11 percent for the AKP.

Istanbul, the largest city in the country, was a key prize for Erdogan and he had fielded former premier and loyalist Binali Yildirim as candidate for mayor.

But Istanbul was a very tight race and both Yildirim and the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu claimed victory in the early hours of Monday when tallies showed them in a dead heat.

Symbolic gesture 
Electoral authorities on Monday announced Imamoglu was ahead by 28,000 votes with nearly all ballot boxes tallied, prompting AKP officials to challenge to the result.

Imamoglu had 48.79 percent of the votes while Yildirim had 48.52 percent, Anadolu reported on Tuesday, citing preliminary results.

Imamoglu on Tuesday travelled to Ankara to lay flowers at the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Musfafa Kemal Ataturk in a highly symbolic gesture Erdogan often does himself soon after his election wins.

"Had the other party won, I would have said 'congratulations Mr Binali Yildirim', which I do not say because I am the one who won," Imamoglu told reporters.

"They are behaving like a kid who has been deprived of his toy."

AKP party spokesman Omer Celik on Monday had said they had found discrepancies between reports from polling stations and vote counts in both Ankara and Istanbul.

Erdogan, himself a former Istanbul mayor, had campaigned hard in the city. But the ruling party may have been stung by the economy with Turkey in recession for the first time since 2009 and inflation in double digits. 
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP on Tuesday appealed against results in Istanbul and Ankara following a weekend election after tallies showed the ruling party lost both key cities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP on Tuesday appealed against results in Istanbul and Ankara following a weekend election after tallies showed the ruling party lost both key cities. Erdogan's AKP and coalition partner won more than 50 percent of votes nationwide in Sunday's local ballot, but defeat in both Turkey's capital and its economic hub would be a setback after the party's decade and a half in power. The AKP appeals with electoral authorities, who have two days to decide whether the claims of irregularities have merit, may signal more ruling party challenges to the surprise opposition victories. "We have filed our objections with the electoral authorities in all 39 districts," AKP's Istanbul chief Bayram Senocak told reporters. "We have identified irregularities and falsifications." He said the party had found an "excessive" difference between votes cast at ballot stations for their candidate and the data sent to electoral authorities. Hakan Han Ozcan, AKP's Ankara chairman, told reporters they were also filing an appeal in 25 districts of the capital. Anadolu state news agency said results showed CHP opposition candidate Mansur Yavas with 50.93 percent of votes against 47.11 percent for the AKP. Istanbul, the largest city in the country, was a key prize for Erdogan and he had fielded former premier and loyalist Binali Yildirim as candidate for mayor. But Istanbul was a very tight race and both Yildirim and the opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu claimed victory in the early hours of Monday when tallies showed them in a dead heat. Symbolic gesture Electoral authorities on Monday announced Imamoglu was ahead by 28,000 votes with nearly all ballot boxes tallied, prompting AKP officials to challenge to the result. Imamoglu had 48.79 percent of the votes while Yildirim had 48.52 percent, Anadolu reported on Tuesday, citing preliminary results. Imamoglu on Tuesday travelled to Ankara to lay flowers at the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Musfafa Kemal Ataturk in a highly symbolic gesture Erdogan often does himself soon after his election wins. "Had the other party won, I would have said 'congratulations Mr Binali Yildirim', which I do not say because I am the one who won," Imamoglu told reporters. "They are behaving like a kid who has been deprived of his toy." AKP party spokesman Omer Celik on Monday had said they had found discrepancies between reports from polling stations and vote counts in both Ankara and Istanbul. Erdogan, himself a former Istanbul mayor, had campaigned hard in the city. But the ruling party may have been stung by the economy with Turkey in recession for the first time since 2009 and inflation in double digits.

Erdogan party appeals Istanbul, Ankara results after Turkey vote

A car bomb blast near ruling AK party headquarters left at least 48 people, including two police officers, wounded in Turkey&#39;s southeastern city of Van on Monday. 
 
The attack comes a day after the government suspended 28 mayors for being allegedly involved with&nbsp;Kurdistan Workers&#39; Party (PKK), a group viewed by Turkey and its Western allies as a terrorist organisation.&nbsp; 
 
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Turkish government believes PKK to be behind the attack. 
 
&quot;The terrorist organisation (PKK) has targeted our party building and the (ruling party) AKP&#39;s presence in the past. This is one of them,&quot;&nbsp;Turkish lawmaker&nbsp;Besir Atalay told NTV, a private TV station. 
 
&quot;One of the police officers is in a critical condition,&quot; he further said, AFP reported. 
 
Turkey has escalated its offensive against PKK militants in the southeast region of Turkey. 
 
PKK, which seeks to form an independent state of Kurdistan, has been waging an armed struggle in Turkey since 1984. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The attack took place between the ruling AKP's offices and those of the governor, according to a Turkish lawmaker

A car bomb blast near ruling AK party headquarters left at least 48 people, including two police officers, wounded in Turkey's southeastern city of Van on Monday. The attack comes a day after the government suspended 28 mayors for being allegedly involved with Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group viewed by Turkey and its Western allies as a terrorist organisation. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Turkish government believes PKK to be behind the attack. "The terrorist organisation (PKK) has targeted our party building and the (ruling party) AKP's presence in the past. This is one of them," Turkish lawmaker Besir Atalay told NTV, a private TV station. "One of the police officers is in a critical condition," he further said, AFP reported. Turkey has escalated its offensive against PKK militants in the southeast region of Turkey. PKK, which seeks to form an independent state of Kurdistan, has been waging an armed struggle in Turkey since 1984. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Turkey: Car blast near ruling party offices leaves at least 48 injured

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German MPs urge review of Turkish ultra-nationalist Grey Wolves

Erdogan party appeals Istanbul, Ankara results after Turkey vote

Turkey: Car blast near ruling party offices leaves at least 48 injured