EU concerned over Turkish political situation

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union voiced concern Wednesday over a political row in Turkey after the main opposition party and Kurdish deputies boycotted the opening session of parliament.

The 135 deputies of the centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP) and 35 Kurdish politicians refused to be sworn in, in protest over the jailing of lawmakers.

The European Commission "is following the situation very closely and with concern," said a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"Turkey will have to deal in the near future with important challenges which will require the inclusion of all democratic forces," said Maja Kocijancic.

"The parliament will be at the heart of the debates and the decisions on Turkey's future, and that's why it's important that all sides contribute to guarantee its integrity and its good functioning," she said.

Turkish courts last week refused to free nine opposition lawmakers elected while awaiting trial in prison, and the electoral board stripped one of them of his seat.

Two of the detained deputies, journalist Mustafa Balbay and academic Mehmet Haberal, were elected on a CHP ticket. They were imprisoned more than two years ago on charges of involvement in alleged plots to destabilise and overthrow the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.