Turk independent candidate shot dead ahead of poll

ISTANBUL, July 17 (Reuters) A Turkish election candidate running as an independent in Istanbul has been shot dead after an attack on his car, CNN Turk reported today.

Tuncay Seyranlioglu, a 42-year-old company director, died in hospital late yesterday after gunmen opened fire from another car. Three other people were injured.

Police have detained three people, CNN Turk said. No further details were immediately available.

Turks elect a new parliament on Sunday amid tensions between the ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party and the country's secular elite, which includes powerful army generals, and also between Turkish nationalists and supporters of Kurdish autonomy.

The pro-business, centre-right AK Party is widely predicted to win the election but with a reduced majority.

A large number of candidates are running as independents in an attempt to circumvent Turkey's 10 percent national threshold for political parties to enter parliament.

REUTERS SKB MIR KP1717