World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkish newspapers concentrated on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks on Turkey’s main opposition leader saying “blood” would have to be shed before Erdogan gets the executive presidential system he favors.

"You cannot actualize such a presidential system without shedding blood," Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said last week at the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) in Ankara.

MILLIYET's headline read: "I draw my strength from the people"

According to the daily, at a meeting with foreign students in Istanbul, Erdogan criticized Kilicdaroglu, saying that he is not feeding on blood, but rather drawing his power from the Turkish nation.

"If there is anybody feeding on blood, it is the CHP," the daily quoted Erdogan as saying.

On Sunday, an investigation was opened into Kilicdaroglu’s remarks.

Erdogan also criticized the EU for not keeping its promises to grant billions of euros to support Syrian refugees sheltering in Turkey, the daily said.

The president said that since the first day of the Syrian crisis, Turkey has never forsaken the Syrian people, the daily added.

"Today, we [Turkey] are hosting about 3 million Syrian and Iraqi refugees," the newspaper quoted Erdogan as saying.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, Turkey has opened its doors to some 3 million Syrian people fleeing the war, making it the country hosting the largest number of refugees in the world.

Erdogan also accused the YPG and PYD terror organizations – Syrian affiliates of the terrorist group PKK – of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Syria.

In sports news, the newspapers covered Besiktas' first victory in the Turkish Spor Toto Super Lig title since 2009.

SABAH’s headline simply said: "Champions Besiktas"

Besiktas won over Osmanlispor 3-1 in Inonu Stadium (now Vodafone Arena) overlooking Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace by the banks of the Bosphorus.

VATAN covered the story with the headline, "Champions".

Thousands of fans took to the streets across Turkey following Besiktas's historic victory, the daily said.

Besiktas clinched the Super Lig title with 79 points and with a match to spare. The other title contenders, Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, are in second place with 73 points.

The win is Besiktas’ 14th league title in total.

The Black Eagles now qualify directly for next season's UEFA Champions League group stage.

But last night, thoughts of Europe were far away as the streets of Istanbul became a riot of color and noise to welcome Besiktas, Turkey’s new champions.

In more sports news, the success of Fenerbahce's basketball team was also covered by the Turkish dailies.

"Thanks, Fener," was VATAN's headline.

Fenerbahce lost the Turkish Airlines Euroleague final to CSKA Moscow in the final at the Mercedes-Benz Arena late in Berlin to become the league runners-up.

The game between the two ended 101-96 in overtime.

In domestic news, a soldier was martyred in southeastern Turkey in clashes between security forces and PKK terrorists.

"Bad news," was AKSAM's headline.

In clashes between the two, a soldier was martyred and six others wounded in the Daglica area of the Hakkari province.

PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU – resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, more than 440 members of the security forces, including troops, police officers and village guards, have been martyred and over 4,500 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.