Police, protesters clash near PM office in Ankara

Police, protesters clash near PM office in Ankara
Mon Jun 3, 2013 17:24:33

Thousands of Turkish protesters are gathering around the prime minister's office in Ankara at the fourth day of demonstrations against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.

The number of protestors is going to be increased as Turkey police have fired tear gas to disperse the protestors.


Violence has been also flared in Istanbul between a group of demonstrators and police, Al-Alam reported.


The private Dogan news agency said police fired tear gas at the group in an area close to Erdogan's Istanbul offices. The protesters responded by hurling stones.


The agency said as many as 500 protesters were detained overnight Monday. Turkey's Fox television reported 300 others detained in a similar crackdown in Izmir, Turkey's third largest city.


The demonstrations that grew out of anger over excessive police force have spiraled into Turkey's biggest anti-government demonstrations in years, challenging Erdogan's power.


Istanbul has been the scene of anti-government protests since Friday after security forces attacked a peaceful four-day sit-in by environmental activists against the demolition of Gezi Park at Taksim Square.

 

The tough police response to park protesters sparked mass anti-government demonstrations in nearly 50 other cities, including Mugla and Antalya.

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