On long march, Turkish party leader becomes victims' voice

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ISTANBUL (AP) — The leader of Turkey's main opposition party says he believes he has become the voice of thousands of people victimized by a large-scale crackdown following last year's failed coup attempt.

Republican People's Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu made the comments Friday, on the 23rd day of his 426-kilometer (250-mile) "March for Justice" from the capital of Ankara to Istanbul to protest against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's policies.

The march originally was planned to denounce the imprisonment of a party lawmaker but has grown into a wider protest of the post-coup crackdown. Tens of thousands are marching alongside Kilicdaroglu.

Kilicdaroglu told The Associated Press: "There are many victims in this society and we have become their spokesman."

The march ends Sunday with a "Justice Rally" near a prison holding the legislator.