Ankara

Armenia marks on Friday the centenary of the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians with commemorative ceremonies across the country.

Flowers were laid and a minute of silence was observed at the Armenian Genocide Memorial near Yerevan, the BBC reports.

A total of 17 suspects allegedly involved in fraud connected to Turkey's Public Personnel Selection Exam (KPSS) held in 2010 were arrested April 24 in a second wave of arrests, while 25 others were released on probation. 

By Nikos Konstandaras

Fulfilling expectations, U.S. President Barack Obama has refrained from using the word ?genocide? in a statement to mark the 100th anniversary of the mass deportation of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, while praising two figures who did it in the past.

Days before the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Gallipoli Campaign, Ankara has discovered a military graveyard for Ottoman soldiers on a Greek island where Turkish and Egyptian soldiers were buried by British forces.

Yerevan is prepared to normalize its relations with Ankara without any preconditions, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has said ahead of April 24, "Genocide Remembrance Day" for Armenians.

After recalling its ambassador to Austria on April 22, Turkey has now recalled seven ambassadors to Ankara over the last few years for various reasons, including bilateral political strain or security concerns in those foreign capitals. 

As the entire country celebrated National Sovereignty and Children's Day on April 23 with various activities, the day which has a highly symbolic importance for the foundation of the Republic of Turkey offered a unique opportunity for political leaders to deliver messages on their primary issues.

An unidentified assailant attacked the election bureau of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the southeastern province of Batman on April 23, killing the son of a former AKP deputy and injuring another.

The assailant came to the election bureau at noon and reportedly fired four or five gunshots before being caught by the police while fleeing the scene.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has joined the list of world leaders and governments who have named the killing of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire ?genocide,? just one day after the Austrian parliament issued a similar declaration, prompting Turkey to recall its ambassador.