Turkish protesters continue clashes with police

Street battles between Turkish protesters and security forces have continued for the sixth straight night as a new wave of unrest across the country appears to take shape over the killing of a young protester.

Turkey has been the scene of fresh protests following the death of 22-year-old Ahmet Atakan, who was killed on September 9 after being hit in the head with a tear gas canister during a protest rally to denounce Ankara’s handling of recent nationwide demonstrations in the southern city of Antakya.

In the latest series of protests on Saturday night, police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators in the Tuzlucayir neighborhood of the capital city of Ankara.

In Istanbul, another demonstration turned violent as protesters and security forces clashed with each other.

Street battles also broke out between protesters and police in the southern province of Hatay.

Local officials have denied the account of Atakan’s death, saying the youngster died after falling from a rooftop during the skirmishes.

Atakan’s killing is the sixth recorded death in protest rallies since anti-Ankara demonstrations began in June. The Turkish government has also arrested many activists, among them high school students on allegations of inciting unrest across the country.

In June, a peaceful sit-in aimed at saving Istanbul’s central Gezi Park from being razed prompted a violent police response. Thousands of protesters were injured after the protests spiraled into nationwide demos against the administration of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.