Kurdish protesters, security forces clash in TurkeyJune 30, 2013 - 20:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Kurdish protesters clashed with security forces in Turkey's southeast on Sunday, ahead of demonstrations planned across the country to pressure the government to carry out reforms, Reuters reported. The main pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, the BDP, has called for marches in at least three major cities, to launch a summer of protests against what it sees as a lack of commitment by Ankara to a peace process with Kurdish militants. The Kurdish unrest comes after weeks of unrelated anti-government protests in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities in which four people have died and thousands have been injured. Security forces killed an 18-year-old man and wounded 10 others when they fired on a group protesting against the construction of a gendarmerie outpost in the Kurdish-dominated southeast on Friday. It was the most violent incident since a March ceasefire called by the Kurdistan Workers Party's (PKK) jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan and threatens to derail the nascent peace process between the rebels and the state. A few hundred protesters burned tires and closed a main road on Sunday near the Cizre district of Sirnak province, which borders both Syria and Iraq. Some threw firebombs at police who responded with water cannon and teargas, security sources said. Pro-Kurdish marches were expected in the cities of Diyarbakir, Mersin and Adana. Diyarbakir is the main city in the southeast and Mersin and Adana, on the Mediterranean coast, have large Kurdish populations. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |