Turkish capital rocked by clashes after arrests

 
Protesters take cover during clashes with police at a demonstration in Ankara
Getty
4 July 2013

Turkish protesters returned to the streets overnight amid anger over the arrest of activists and the freeing of a police officer accused of killing a demonstrator.

Several people were injured in clashes with police in capital Ankara. Security forces used water cannon and smoke grenades to disperse hundreds of protesters. It followed the arrest in Ankara of at least 20 people in a government crackdown on activists. In Istanbul, thousands marched towards Taksim Square to denounce the freeing of the police officer.

Protests over plans to build on a park in Istanbul have exploded into wider anger against prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His opponents accuse him of becoming authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.

This article was originally accompanied by a picture showing police responding to protests in Brazil.  It was replaced with a new image (above) when the error came to light.

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