Published time: May 18, 2013 14:23
Large doses of teargas, paintballs, and water cannon were fired as protesters clashed with police in the Turkish-Syrian border town of Reyhanli. The mass demonstration comes a week after twin car bomb explosions a week ago, which killed 46 people.
Protesters waved red banners, and lobbed stones and bottles at
the officers as the intensity of Saturday’s clashes escalated.
Riot police made attempts to disperse the crowds, marching in
solidarity with the victims of last week’s attacks.
Police prevented the protesters from reaching the center of the
town, where the bombs exploded by the city hall and post
office.
Pockets of the marchers also clamored for a change of government as
many people in the town are angry at the government’s response to
the attack. They also blame Turkish authorities for decision to
take in Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict in their country,
saying it has made them a target for attacks.
Barriers were broken down, with some detained, and others suffering
injuries, according to a local tweet.
The parade began with more than 1,000 participants. Local reports
stated that the count could have even stood at over 10,000.
However, it quickly fragmented, with the number of attendees
dwindling to the hundreds. The clashes calmed down after
approximately an hour.
Last Saturday’s fatal car bombs in Hatay province on the
Turkey-Syria border also injured a further 100 when they exploded
outside a community hall and a post office in the center of town of
Reyhanli. A third, unconnected explosion – likely an accident –
also took place in a building containing some Syrian refugees.
Residents of the town harbored frustration at the government’s
immediate response, also saying that the country shouldn’t be
accommodating refugees from Syria.
Turkey had been quick to blame Syria for the devastating attacks,
with Ankara warning it would take
“all retaliatory measures
necessary,” raising the prospect of an escalation in the
conflict.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came in for criticism for
traveling to the United States this week, instead of visiting the
town to display support in the wake of its tragedy.
Immediately following the blasts, approximately 100 of the city’s
residents took to the streets outside Turkey’s Foreign Ministry,
calling for Erdogan’s resignation and accusing him of a failed
policy towards Syria which they believe led to the assault.
This article originally appeared on : RT