Several protester injured in Turkey clashes

Several people have been injured in the latest round of clashes between the Turkish police and anti-government protesters in the country.

The violence occurred on Sunday as Turkish riot units fired tear gas and water cannon at hundreds of people in Istanbul on the second day of demonstrations marking the first anniversary of last year’s deadly turmoil.

In the capital Ankara, police resorted to the same methods to disperse people at the Kizilay Square, where a 26-year-old protester was shot dead on the same day in 2013.

Thousands of members of security forces have also blocked access to Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square.

A day earlier, Turkish riot police arrested several protesters in Istanbul. The clampdown came after protesters defied a warning by Prime Minister Erdogan and a heavy police presence.

The Gezi Park protests began as a peaceful environmental movement, but later turned into nationwide anti-government rallies, which left eight people dead and thousands wounded.

The anniversary comes as the May 13 blast at a coal mine in Soma has sparked protests in several towns and cities across Turkey in recent weeks. The government is under fire for what is seen as its failure to protect and rescue trapped workers.

Ankara is accused of failing to implement proper safety measures. Turkish media say Ankara rejected calls to inspect mines in the Soma region, only weeks before the deadly coal mine disaster.