TURKEY: Turkish police use tear gas and batons to disperse supporters of a leftist group that is on trial in the capital Istanbul

Dozens of protesters gathered outside an Isanbul court on Friday (April 13) to show their support for 24 people accused of being members of an illegal organisation. The protesters ignored a police warning to leave the area. Shortly afterwards, riot police with gas masks moved in and started spraying tear gas, sending protesters running. Some of the police used batons to hit fleeing protesters. Later, television pictures showed some protesters retaliating by throwing stones at the police. Riot police detained an unknown number of protesters. There were no reports of serious injuries.

ITN Source | April 14, 2007

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