Mustafa Kemal Atatürk commemorated

* Commemorations in Dolmabahçe Palace and Aydın (News and photos: AA)

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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and the first President of the Republic of Turkey, lost his life 83 years ago today (November 10).

He is commemorated across the country. The ceremony at his Monumental Tomb (Anıtkabir) in the capital city of Ankara began at 8.45 am.

Monumental Tomb in Ankara

The cortege at the Monumental Tomb was led by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The ceremony was also attended by Parliamentary Speaker Mustafa Şentop, Vice President Fuat Oktay, members of the Presidential Cabinet, Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli, İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener, the presidents of the high judiciary, the commander-in-chiefs of armed forces, representatives of political parties, bureaucrats and other state officials.

Sivas

Erdoğan laid the wreath with red and white carnations symbolizing the flag of Turkey on the mausoleum of Atatürk. At 9.05 am, when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk died on November 10, 1938, a moment of silence was observed and the national anthem was sung afterwards.

During the moment of silence, the flag was lowered to half-mast. Security measures were high around the Monumental Tomb due to the ceremony. After the ceremony ended, the tomb was opened to the public.

Aydın

Atatürk was also commemorated with a ceremony in the room where he lost his life at the Dolmabahçe Palace in İstanbul.

Maraş

The commemoration ceremony at the Palace was also attended by Vice Governor of İstanbul Özlem Bozkurt Gevrek, Deputy Metropolitan Mayor of İstanbul Hüseyin Aksu, Chair of the Presidency's National Palaces' Administration Yasin Yıldız, Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat and Atatürk Culture, Solidarity, Education Association (AKDEV) Chair Gül Karayıldız.

Osmaniye

A commemoration ceremony was also held at the Republic Monument in Taksim Square in İstanbul.

This ceremony was attended by several citizens as well as İstanbul Mayor Ali Yerlikaya, İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, 1st Army and Garrison Commander Kemal Yeni, CHP İstanbul MP Aykut Erdoğdu, İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Şaban Yılmaz, CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu, representatives of political parties and NGOs.

İstanbul-Taksim

(AÖ/SD)