Turkish police have fired tear gas at protesters in the capital, Ankara, as a fresh round of anti-government protests hit the country.
Clashes broke out late on Sunday after hundreds of people took to the streets of Istanbul’s Kadikoy area to remember protesters killed in government crackdown over the past few months.

The riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. An unknown number of protesters were also arrested.

Turkey has been the scene of fresh protests following the death of 22-year-old Ahmet Atakan during a protest rally to denounce Ankara’s handling of recent nationwide demonstrations in the southern city of Antakya.

He was killed on September 9 after being hit in the head with a tear gas canister fired by the riot police.

But police deny responsibility for the death, saying Atakan died after falling from a rooftop during the skirmishes.

Atakan is the sixth anti-government protester killed in Turkey since the beginning of nationwide anti-government demonstrations in June over Ankara's heavy-handed response to protests against government's plan to destroy Istanbul's Gezi Park.

Protesters also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The protests were held in nearly 80 cities for three consecutive weeks in which more than 8,000 people were injured and thousands of others were detained during the government crackdown.

By Press TV

 

The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.