From the section Europe
Image caption
Outgoing PM Ahmet Davutoglu (centre) and his ruling party legislators vote on the bill
The Turkish parliament has approved a controversial bill that will strip MPs of their immunity from prosecution.
Pro-Kurdish lawmakers say this is essentially a move to expel opposition members from parliament.
The measure is seen as targeting the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as well as the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
Turkey has led an offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), accused of being a terror group.
A ceasefire ended weeks after elections in June 2015. The renewed conflict has claimed hundreds of lives on both sides, particularly in the south-east.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the HDP of being the PKK's political arm, and has called for pro-Kurdish MPs to face terrorism charges.
This vote could be a first step towards making that happen.
Calling the move "historic" as lawmakers voted, Mr Erdogan told a crowd in his hometown of Rize: "My people do not want to see guilty lawmakers in this parliament."
'Blow to people's will'
Critics also say the move aims to strengthen the ruling AK Party and consolidate support in the assembly for the executive presidential system Mr Erdogan wants to implement.
HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtas said the move was a blow against the people's will and could not be accepted as democratic.
He said the party would challenge the decision at Turkey's top court.
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