Turkey denies newly elected pro-Kurdish mayor the right to hold office in country’s east

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s electoral authorities have denied the newly elected mayor from a pro-Kurdish party the right to hold office in an eastern city. Instead, the authorities on Tuesday appointed the runner-up candidate from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party to the position. Protesters took to the streets in the city of Van after the electoral authority revoked Abdullah Zeydan’s mandate. It cited a last-minute court decision that overturned an earlier ruling that said the politician, who has served time, could run in the election. His party is now seeking a reversal of that decision. Police used a water cannon and fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Van. Sunday’s local polls were a blow to Erdogan and his ruling party.