Turkish police nab dozen more protesters

Turkish police nab dozen more protesters
Thu Jun 20, 2013 17:17:40

Turkish police have reportedly detained 13 more demonstrators for involvement in protests that swept the country since May 31.

Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency reported that the protesters were arrested on Thursday for alleged “vandalism, use of firebombs and inciting riots.”

The report added that the suspects were the members of outlawed left-wing groups and that they were identified from videos of the protests.

Human rights groups say more than 3,000 people have been detained, then released, since anti-government demonstrations. Dozens remain in custody and at least six people face charges.

Police dispersed hundreds of protesters in the capital Ankara overnight, but the protests have mostly given way to a passive form of resistance, with demonstrators standing motionless in streets and squares.

The unrest in Turkey began on May 31 after the police broke up a sit-in held at Istanbul's Taksim Square to protest against the proposal to demolish Gezi Park.

Over the past three weeks, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters held demonstrations in 78 cities across the country.

According to the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, five people have died, including a policeman, and about 7,800 people have been injured in the protests.

Six injured protesters are in critical condition and 11 people have lost their eyesight during the police crackdown.

On Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled plans to increase the police’s powers in dealing with anti-government protests that hit the country about three weeks.

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