Turkish protesters shout anti-government slogans during a demonstration in the capital, Ankara, June 25 2013.<\/p>\n
Police in Turkey have used water cannon and smoke grenades to disperse hundreds of anti-government demonstrators in the capital, Ankara.\n<\/p>\n
On Tuesday night, several people were injured in the clashes between the protesters and the police in Turkish capital.\n<\/p>\n
Also in Istanbul, thousands of people, who were chanting slogans against the government, marched toward now-iconic Taksim Square to denounce a court decision that freed a police officer accused of killing an anti-government demonstrator in Ankara.\n<\/p>\n
The police surrounded the square and blocked the protesters\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 from reaching it.\n<\/p>\n
At least 20 people were detained during the rally.\n<\/p>\n
Meeting in Luxembourg earlier in the day, European Union foreign ministers supported a German proposal to delay the new round of Turkey\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s membership negotiations, which had been scheduled to resume on Wednesday.\n<\/p>\n
Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, among other EU member states, blocked the talks in criticism of the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for its handling of the anti-government protests.\n<\/p>\n
The unrest in Turkey began on May 31 after police broke up a sit-in held at Taksim Square to protest against the proposal to redevelop Gezi Park, which is a traditional gathering point for rallies and demonstrations as well as a popular tourist destination.\n<\/p>\n
The demonstrators say the park is also one of Istanbul’s last green public spaces.\n<\/p>\n
Four people, including a police officer, have died in the recent clashes between the Turkish protesters and security forces, and more than 5,000 protesters and 600 police officers have been injured.\n<\/p>\n
GJH\/PR\/HJL<\/p>\n<\/div>\n