Turkey marks 80th anniversary of Atatürk’s demise

Turkey commemorated the 80th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, with official and unofficial ceremonies held across the country on Saturday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Anıtkabir, Atatürk’s mausoleum in the capital Ankara, and laid a wreath on his resting place. Thousands of people carrying red and white flags also joined the ceremony.

Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and parliament speaker Binali Yıldırım also participated in the commemoration ceremony, as well as force commanders and other high-level state officials early in the day.

In a commemorative message marking the day, Erdoğan said, "Gazi [Veteran] Mustafa Kemal, who managed to unite our nation around a common ideal in the difficult path he took with endless confidence and belief in the nation, has crowned our war of independence with the foundation of our republic."

Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, and parliament speaker Binali Yıldırım also participated to the commemoration ceremony, as well as force commanders and other high-level state officials early in the day.

At 9.05 a.m. (0605GMT) sirens wailed to mark the exact moment of Ataturk's death at the age of 57 in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace.

Around the country, people stopped in the streets or stood silently at their workplaces to remember Ataturk.

Several commemorations were held in Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Istanbul's Taksim Square.

Atatürk was the founder of the Republic of Turkey. He made his mark in the military in 1915 when he led forces to repel the allied invasion in Canakkale, known in the West as the Dardanelles. When he became president, Atatürk transformed the former empire into a modern and secular country.

Atatürk passed away in Istanbul on Nov. 10, 1938, at the age of 57.