Berlin (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed "dismay" over a deadly attack in Turkey on an anti-government peace rally Saturday, calling it an assault on "civic rights, democracy and peace".

"If the indications of terrorist attacks are confirmed, then it's a matter of particularly cowardly acts, which are directed straight at civic rights, democracy and peace," Merkel said in a condolence message to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Expressing her "sadness and dismay" over the twin blasts that killed at least 86 people in the Turkish capital, Merkel also said she was "convinced" the Turkish government and all of Turkish society stood united at this moment and would "contrast terror with a response of closeness and democracy".

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a separate statement that perpetrators of the attacks must not succeed in creating a climate of fear and intimidation before elections on November 1.