Selahattin Demirtas said the incident ocurred in the southeastern town of Bismil, where Kurds were holding a demonstration to protest a decision by electoral authorities to disqualify several prominent Kurds from running in upcoming elections.

Local officials contacted by AFP could confirm only several injured people, among them three in serious condition, while a witness reported seeing one dead.

Demirtas said he would not go to a meeting with President Abdullah Gul later Wednesday, which was scheduled in an effort to ease tensions over the barred candidates.