Playground dismantled by 'disgruntled' Turkish headman who lost local election

A village headman in Turkey allegedly dismantled a children's playground built during his 20 year tenure in anger at having lost his position in Sunday's local elections.

This follows news that local authorities in Ankara and Antalya have cut services after having changed hands from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

Mehmet Akyol, muhtar (headman) of the Yenidogan village in the Zonguldak province, northern Turkey, built the playground one week before the election, according to Demiroren news agency.

After losing the election to a rival candidate, Akyol decided to dismantle the playground with a saw, locals said.

When villagers saw the scene of the ripped-apart playground they tried to salvage the demolished swings and slides, with Akyol forced to leave the scene.

Villagers later went to the muhtar's office to investigate and reportedly found the electricity meter, door lock and wall board all removed.

"For twenty years we made him muhtar," village resident Yasemin Celik. "We are so sad."

Akyol denied allegations that he had stolen from the government by removing the playground and items from the muhtar's office, saying he had purchased the items and built the playground with his own money.

"The district governor told me to remove the playground after I received the results," he said.

"I didn't dismantle it because I lost the election. I built the children's playground with my own capabilities."

Fixed-price food stalls set up by local authorities in Ankara amid an economic crisis were also abruptly removed on Monday after CHP politician Mansur Yavas seized the long-time AKP stronghold on Sunday, Sozcu reported.

The low-cost fruit and vegetable stalls were erected in neighbourhoods across Istanbul and the capital Ankara in February to counteract rising prices which had left locals struggling to buy basic goods. An economic crisis has embattled Turkey since last summer.