Anti-govt. protests after suicide bombing turn violent in TurkeyJuly 22, 2015 - 13:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish police detained at least 11 people overnight as anti-government protests following a suicide bombing blamed on Islamic State turned violent in Istanbul and other cities, Reuters reports. Two police officers were found dead, shot in the head, in a house in the southeastern city of Sanliurfa on Wednesday, July 22, security sources said, though it was not immediately clear if their killing was related to the wider disturbances. Protests erupted in a dozen or so neighborhoods in Istanbul late on Tuesday, as well as cities in the predominantly Kurdish southeast, after Monday's bombing in the Kurdish town of Suruc near the Syrian border, which killed 32 people. Turkey's NATO allies have expressed concern about control of the border which in parts runs directly parallel with territories controlled by Islamic State. Some 1.8 million Syrian refugees live on the Turkish side and smuggling is rife. Many of Turkey's Kurds and opposition supporters suspect President Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AK Party of covertly backing Islamic State against Kurdish fighters in Syria, something the government has repeatedly denied. "Murderer Islamic State, collaborator Erdogan and AKP" some of the protesters chanted as they marched down a major shopping avenue in Istanbul's Kadikoy neighborhood, before police fired tear gas and water cannon when they refused to disperse. There were also protests overnight in the capital Ankara, where demonstrators carried pictures of those killed in the Suruc attack as well as banners of the youth federation of which many of the victims were members, Reuters says. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Tuesday rejected accusations that Turkey had tacitly supported Islamic State and had unwittingly opened the door to the bombing. He has said, however, that initial evidence suggests Islamic State was responsible for the attack. The blast tore through a group of university-aged students, led by the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations, as they gathered in Suruc ahead of a planned trip to help rebuild the nearby Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani. They had hoped to bring toys to children and help rebuild playgrounds and a library destroyed during a months-long siege by Islamic State. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |