Police attack protesters, arrest 16 in Ankara

Turkish riot police have attacked anti-government protesters, who had congregated in the Dikmen district of the capital, Ankara, arresting 16 of them.

On Wednesday, Turkish police forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse 2000 protesters staging demonstrations in Ankara.

Protesters had reportedly gathered overnight in the Ankara district and tried to barricade a main road.

Meanwhile, local Turkish television showed protests against the release of a police officer who shot to death a protester during anti-government demonstrations in Ankara.

On Monday, Ankara’s Criminal Court rejected lawyers’ demand to detain the officer, named Ahmet S., ruling that the shooting was “within the limits of self-defense.”

The 26-year-old protester, Ethem Sarisuluk, was shot in the head during a demonstration near Kizilay Square on June 1. He was declared brain dead and subsequently died on June 14.

On the same day, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the “legendary heroism” of police forces in quelling anti-government protests that have rocked the country for more than three weeks.

The unrest in Turkey began on May 31 after police broke up a sit-in held at Taksim Square to protest against a proposal to redevelop Gezi Park, which is a traditional gathering point for rallies and demonstrations as well as a popular tourist destination.
The demonstrators say the park is also one of Istanbul’s last green public spaces.

A total of four people, including a police officer, have died in the recent clashes between the Turkish protesters and security forces, and more than 5,000 protesters and 600 police officers have been injured.