Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan has traded blows with the opposition ahead of Sunday's parliamentary vote which could give the incumbent sweeping new powers.

Turks voted in the most-closely fought legislative elections since the Islamic-rooted ruling party came to power over a decade ago, in a crucial test for Mr Erdogan's plan for a new constitution.

Mr Erdogan is hoping the ruling AK Party he founded will win a crushing victory, allowing it to change the constitution and handing him broad presidential powers.

Tensions heightened on Friday after two bombs tore through a Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) rally in the city of Diyarbakir in the mainly Kurdish south-east, killing two and injuring at least 200.

The pro-Kurdish party has accused the president of failing to show respect for two opposition supporters who died.

HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas criticised Mr Erdogan, saying the president had gone ahead with his own rally after news of the attack broke, and had been slow to mention the tragedy.

"He should go to Diyarbakir. Is he not the president of 77 million people? He ought to leave flowers where people were killed," Mr Demirtas told a rally on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Mr Erdogan countered by saying it was Mr Demirtas who should apologise, and accused him of instigating violence in October, linked to events in Syria, that killed dozens.

He offered condolences and described the attack as a "provocation" designed to undermine the election.

In Diyarbakirm hundreds of people marched to the scene of the attack, chanting "Murderer Erdogan" and bearing a banner declaring "peace despite everything".

Recent polls suggest the HDP could pass the 10 per cent mark and enter parliament, robbing the ruling AKP of dozens of seats and possibly keeping it from forming a single-party government.

The party is attempting to move beyond its Kurdish roots and draw support from centre-left and secularist sympathisers as Mr Erdogan's religious tone has become more pronounced.

Mr Demirtas accused pro-government newspapers of giving scant coverage of Friday's attacks. He held up their front pages as he spoke to thousands from atop a campaign bus.

"I know we are angry, but we will not act in anger. We will act in good conscience," he said.

"We will be smart and we will give our answer at the ballot box and stand up for our country."

He said his party had been the target of 140 violent attacks during the campaign, including a double bombing in southern Turkish cities last month which wounded six.

The opposition figure said the HDP would continue to promote peace talks between Kurdish rebels and the government, whatever the election outcome.

AFP

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