Thousands quit ultranationalist party in Turkey after murder of popular nationalist figure

Thousands of members of the ultra-nationalist MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) have left in protest against their party's long silence and inaction after former Gray Wolves leader Sinan Ates was assassinated in Ankara.

The Yeni Cag newspaper reported that 155,800 members resigned from the party as of January 26, in less than a month after the murder, bringing the total to 308,292.

Last year, the MHP had 464,092 members.

Yencag said analysts expected the wave of resignations to continue as the party remained silent about the murder and still has not issued a clear statement.

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli also scolded a journalist who asked about the murder. The journalist was later labeled an "agent provocateur" by the MHP.

Tolgahan Demirtas, one of the suspects in the murder case, was found by police in the house of MHP deputy Olcay Kilavuz on the very day of the murder.

Ufuk Kokturk, another MHP official, admitted sending money to a suspect accused of inciting the murder,