Thousands Rally In Istanbul As Erdogan Issues Warning Against Protests Over Mayor's Arrest | rssama.com

ISTANBUL (AP) — Protests erupted crossed aggregate Turkish cities connected Friday arsenic group rallied against nan arrest of Istanbul’s mayor and apical rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, contempt nan Turkish leader’s stern informing that thoroughfare protests would not beryllium tolerated.

In Istanbul, constabulary utilized capsicum spray, tear state and rubber bullets to push backmost hundreds of protesters who tried to break done a barricade successful beforehand of nan city’s historical aqueduct and threw flares, stones and different objects astatine them.

Police besides collapsed up demonstrations successful Ankara, nan capital, arsenic good arsenic successful nan Aegean coastal metropolis of Izmir, resorting to forceful measures astatine times, according to images shown connected nan backstage Halk TV. Thousands marched successful respective different cities calling connected nan authorities to resign, nan position reported.

At slightest 97 group were detained nationwide during nan protests, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested successful a dawn ambush connected his residence connected Wednesday complete alleged corruption and panic links, escalating a crackdown connected guidance figures and dissenting voices. Several different salient figures, including 2 territory mayors, were besides detained.

Many position nan apprehension arsenic a politically driven effort to region a celebrated guidance figure and cardinal challenger to Erdogan successful nan adjacent statesmanlike race, presently scheduled for 2028. Government officials cull accusations that ineligible actions against guidance figures are politically motivated and insist that Turkey’s courts run independently.

Mayor is questioned by police

Imamoglu was questioned by constabulary for 4 hours complete corruption accusations, during which he denied each nan charges, nan Cumhuriyet newspaper and different media reported. He was expected to beryllium transferred to a courthouse Saturday evening for questioning by prosecutors.

His apprehension has sparked nan largest protests since 2013, erstwhile Turkey was rocked by wide anti-government demonstrations that near 8 group dead.

Earlier connected Friday, nan leader of Turkey’s main guidance party, Ozgur Ozel, renewed a telephone connected supporters to return to nan streets for serene demonstrations, while authorities widened a prohibition connected protests and criticized nan entreaty arsenic irresponsible.

“I induce tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions, to peacefully demonstrate, definitive our antiauthoritarian reaction, and workout our law rights,” he said.

Addressing a ample rally extracurricular nan metropolis hall, Ozel accused Erdogan of utilizing nan judiciary arsenic instrumentality aft failing to conclusion nan politician “in a adjacent way.”

Erdogan says authorities won’t tolerate protests

Erdogan, progressively authoritarian aft much than 2 decades successful office, said nan authorities would not tolerate thoroughfare protests and accused nan guidance statement of links to corruption and panic organizations.

“An anti-corruption cognition successful Istanbul is being utilized arsenic an excuse to operation unrest successful our streets. I want it to beryllium known that we will not let a fistful of opportunists to bring unrest to Turkey conscionable to protect their plundering schemes,” Erdogan said.

“Pointing to nan streets alternatively of courtrooms to take sides theft, plunder, lawlessness and fraud is simply a sedate irresponsibility,” Erdogan said. “Just arsenic we person not surrendered to thoroughfare coercion until now, we will not front to vandalism successful nan early either.”

On Friday, authorities successful Ankara and Izmir announced a five-day prohibition connected demonstrations, pursuing a akin measurement imposed earlier successful Istanbul. Authorities connected Friday announced much roadworthy closures successful Istanbul and shuttered metro stops adjacent a assemblage successful Ankara, wherever convulsive clashes occurred a time earlier.

Mayor to beryllium endorsed arsenic statesmanlike candidate

Imamoglu’s apprehension came conscionable days earlier he was expected to beryllium nominated arsenic nan guidance Republican People’s Party’s statesmanlike campaigner successful a superior connected Sunday. Ozel has said that nan primary, wherever astir 1.5 cardinal delegates tin vote, will spell up arsenic planned.

The guidance statement has besides urged citizens to participate successful a symbolic predetermination connected Sunday — done improvised ballot boxes to beryllium group up crossed Turkey — to show solidarity pinch Imamoglu.

Analysts opportunity Imamoglu could beryllium removed from agency and replaced by a “trustee mayor,” if he is formally charged pinch links to nan outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, aliases PKK, which is listed arsenic a violent statement by Turkey and its Western allies.

Meanwhile, Ozel besides said nan guidance statement would clasp an bonzer statement legislature connected April 6, to thwart immoderate attempts by nan authorities to name a “trustee chairman” to lead nan party. The determination came amid speculation that authorities could annul nan party’s past congress, held successful 2023, complete alleged vote-buying and different irregularities, and name a handpicked leader.

Gunmen occurrence astatine Iraqi consulate

Also Friday, gunmen opened occurrence connected nan Iraqi consulate successful Istanbul, nan Turkish and Iraqi overseas ministries said. No injuries were reported.

Iraq’s overseas ministry said successful a connection that chartless assailants riding connected a motorcycle and equipped pinch an battle rifle, fired 8 shots astatine nan building earlier fleeing.

The Turkish overseas ministry said successful a connection that “the basal investigation is being carried retired meticulously by our information units” and “those responsible will beryllium brought to justice.” It said that measures had been taken to unafraid Iraqi negotiated missions successful Ankara, Istanbul and Gaziantep.

It was not clear what whitethorn person motivated nan shooting.

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