Turkish coalition talks fail

Representatives of the two biggest parties in Turkey met for a last-ditch effort on Thursday, but failed to reach a power-sharing deal.

"We have not been successful in assuring a favorable base for the creation of a government," Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu, a member of the ruling AKP party, told reporters.

"There is a strong possibility of appealing to the national will," he added, referring to new snap polls.

Davutoglu also stated that he would prefer an election "as soon as possible."

The conservative AKP could also attempt to form a coalition with the nationalist opposition party MHP. However, chances for a deal are "very slim," a senior AKP official told the Reuters news agency.

Another possible partner, the pro-Kurdish HDP, had rejected any deal with the AKP, with tensions between the Kurdish group and the government aggravated by Turkey launching airstrikes against Kurdish militants.

Turkish political parties have until the end of next week to reach an agreement and form a majority.

Backing for Erdogan

The AKP lost its absolute majority in an election in June, forcing it to seek coalition partners for the first time since coming to power in 2002.

Turkish president and AKP founder Recep Tayyip Erdogan needs a strong AKP majority for his intended constitutional reforms, which would give the president more power. Opposition representatives have accused the president of obstructing the coalition talks.

On Wednesday, Erdogan said that Davutoglu "would not commit suicide" if no coalition is formed.

Davutoglu told the news conference on Thursday that the perception that President Erdogan did not want a coalition was "completely false."

dj/rc (AP, Reuters, AFP,dpa)