Islamic State group 'prime suspect' in deadly Ankara bombing

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday said Turkey was investigating the Islamic State [IS] group as the prime suspect in the bombings on a weekend peace rally in Ankara that killed 97 people.

"Looking at how the incident took place, we are probing Daesh as our first priority," Davutoglu said, using an alternative Arabic acronym for IS.

He said that the attacks were definitely carried out by two suicide bombers.

"We are close to identifying one of the bombers," he told NTV television, adding that this would help name the organisation behind the attacks.

Davutoglu however remained cautious, saying that authorities were investigating three groups including Islamic State but also the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK] and the far-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party–Front [DHKP-C] as "potential suspects."

"It would not be accurate to give an indication right now," he said.

He also vowed that the November 1 polls will take place despite the attack.

"We will hold the elections under whatever circumstances," he told NTV television.

At least 97 people were killed in the double suicide bombing against the peace rally by leftist and pro-Kurdish activists in central Ankara, the deadliest attack in the history of modern Turkey.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Turkey on Sunday to discuss terrorism, the Syrian war and the refugee crisis, her spokesman said on Monday.

Merkel will meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu for talks on "the joint battle against terrorism, the situation in Syria and managing the refugee crisis," said Steffen Seibert.