A SMALL BOMB PLACED IN FRONT OF A BRANCH OF TURKISH PRIME MINISTER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN'S POLITICAL PARTY EXPLODED SUNDAY IN THE TOWN OF SAHINBEY, IN THE SOUTHEASTERN GAZIANTEP PROVINCE, THE PARTY SAID, ACCORDING TO AP. THE OFFICE WAS EMPTY AND CLOSED FOR THE WEEKEND AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE BOMB HOWEVER, SHATTERED THE BUILDING'S WINDOWS, THE STATE-RUN ANATOLIA NEWS AGENCY REPORTED. THE AGENCY SAID INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THE EXPLOSION RESULTED FROM A PERCUSSION GRENADE _ A TYPE OF EXPLOSIVE THAT USUALLY MAKES A LOUD NOISE BUT CAUSES LIMITED DAMAGE _ PLACED BY THE FRONT DOOR. THIS IS THE FOURTH SUCH ATTACK ON LOCAL BRANCHES OF ERDOGAN'S PARTY THIS MONTH. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN ANY THESE ATTACKS. A KURDISH MILITANT GROUP HAD CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN APRIL BOMB ATTACK ON ANOTHER ISTANBUL BRANCH OF THE RULING PARTY THAT LEFT TWO PEOPLE INJURED. THAT ATTACK OCCURRED DURING A WEEK OF KURDISH RIOTING IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST, WHICH THEN SPREAD TO ISTANBUL, CLAIMING THE LIVES OF 15 PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
