Legal action to ban Kurdish party

Supreme Court prosecutors asked the Constitutional Court to bar the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the state-run Anatolian news agency said.

They allege the DTP is linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The legal action comes amid tensions with Iraq over Turkey's threat to make cross-border attacks on PKK bases.

The DTP, which is represented in parliament, has called on Ankara to grant autonomy to Turkey's mainly Kurdish south-east.

'Step backwards'

Founded in 2005, the DTP denies any links to the PKK, which is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the US and the EU.

DTP deputy Sirri Sakik said the legal action was a step backwards for Turkey in terms of democracy.

"Turkey is becoming a cemetery of banned political parties," he told the AFP news agency.

The PKK has waged a violent campaign for Kurdish autonomy since 1984, resulting in more than 30,000 deaths.

Turkey has recently massed about 100,000 troops on the Iraqi border after its parliament approved calls for a military incursion to deal with the insurgents.