Friends and foes of PKK clash in downtown Istanbul over Ocalan

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

   ISTANBUL, Nov 17 (AFP) - Pro-Kurdish demonstrators and Turkish  
nationalists clashed in downtown Istanbul Tuesday after a PKK 
demonstration in support of its leader Abdullah Ocalan, eyewitnesses 
said. 
   Supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)  
shouted slogans and were attacked by a crowd of nationalists, they 
said. 
   Some 150 PKK supporters gathered on Istiklal Caddesi, Istanbul's  
main shopping street, and marched towards Taksim Square. 
   The group was attacked by about 200 people, and a street battle  
ensued. 
   Police called in reinforcements and began arresting the PKK  
demonstrators to save them from being lynched, the Anatolia news 
agency said. 
   Several PKK demonstrators sought refuge in Saint Antoine Church  
on Istiklal Caddesi. 
   When security forces tried to evacuate some demonstrators in  
police buses, the angry crowd attacked the vehicles and tried to 
drag the PKK supporters out, Anatolia said. 
   It was the first clash of this kind since the arrest of PKK  
leader Abdullah Ocalan in Italy last Thursday. 
   Police made several arrests. Eyewitnesses said at least one man  
was injured. 
  	   	

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