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Turkey rioting claims more lives |
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Written by BBC
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Monday, 03 April 2006 03:50 |
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Turkish security forces were out on the streets of Istanbul At least four more people have died in continued violence in Turkey after days of clashes between Kurds and police.
Three were killed in Istanbul after a petrol bomb was thrown at a bus and a Kurdish man was shot dead by troops in the town of Kiziltepe, reports said.
Turkish officials have alleged that the week of violence has been orchestrated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), banned by the government and branded a terrorist group by the European Union.
Demonstrators took to the streets in Istanbul as unrest spread following Turkey's worst riots in several years.
Riots began on Tuesday after funerals for 14 suspected Kurdish militants who were killed last weekend in the east.
Some 200 pro-Kurdish protesters blocked roads in the Bagcilar suburb of Istanbul and threw a petrol bomb at a passing bus.
At least three people died, reportedly run over as the bus driver manoeuvred to escape the rioters.
In the south-eastern city of Kiziltepe, close to Turkey's border with Syria, reports said a 22-year-old man died in a second successive day of rioting.
On Saturday, protesters throwing stones and petrol bombs set fire to at least one bank and the local headquarters of the prime minister's party.
Rioting broke out in the eastern city of Diyarbakir after 14 suspected Kurdish militants, including several children, were killed by security forces.
The unrest which ensued has so far claimed a further 12 lives.
Tensions between the Ankara government and the PKK have risen since 2004, when the group called off a five year ceasefire. |