Jigs
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Thursday, January 13, 2011
ISTANBUL Daily News with wires
A group protesting a trial into the alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, clashed with police in southeastern Turkey, broadcaster Habertürk reported Thursday.
Protesters gathered outside the courthouse in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır where 151 suspects are standing trial for alleged links to the Kurdistan Communities Union, or KCK.
The KCK trial charges the defendants including a dozen elected mayors from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP with a series of crimes related to challenging the unitary nature of Turkey and aiding a terrorist organization.
The KCK is alleged to be an urban branch of the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Thursday's hearing was the first in the case since November, when the trial practically came to halt due to the suspects request to speak in Kurdish during the hearings, a request repeatedly rejected by the Diyarbakır court.
To protest the restarted trial, demonstrators launched fireworks at police Thursday, Habertürk reported, prompting police to respond with tear gas and pressurized water.
The clashes continued in front of the courthouse with protesters hurling stones at the police.
ISTANBUL Daily News with wires
A group protesting a trial into the alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, clashed with police in southeastern Turkey, broadcaster Habertürk reported Thursday.
Protesters gathered outside the courthouse in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır where 151 suspects are standing trial for alleged links to the Kurdistan Communities Union, or KCK.
The KCK trial charges the defendants including a dozen elected mayors from the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP with a series of crimes related to challenging the unitary nature of Turkey and aiding a terrorist organization.
The KCK is alleged to be an urban branch of the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Thursday's hearing was the first in the case since November, when the trial practically came to halt due to the suspects request to speak in Kurdish during the hearings, a request repeatedly rejected by the Diyarbakır court.
To protest the restarted trial, demonstrators launched fireworks at police Thursday, Habertürk reported, prompting police to respond with tear gas and pressurized water.
The clashes continued in front of the courthouse with protesters hurling stones at the police.
