DHAKA: Turkey’s prime minister says he has exhausted all options to form a coalition government after talks with the nationalist MHP failed, pushing the country closer to fresh elections.

Ahmet Davutoglu said he would return the mandate to the president, reports the BBC.

The main opposition CHP said it should now be given the mandate to form a new government.

The political uncertainty comes amid rising violence in Turkey and neighboring Iraq and Syria.

Davutoglu’s AK Party lost its 12-year majority rule in Turkey in elections in June largely because of the success of the pro-Kurdish HDP.

The AKP’s coalition talks with the CHP failed last week.

Correspondents say the CHP is unlikely to secure the support it needs from both the MHP and the HDP to form a coalition of its own.

BDST: 1516 HRS, AUG 18, 2015
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