A group of 300 demonstrators drew attention to the lengthiness of the trial on the 2007 murder of the editor of Agos daily Hrant Dink. During a protest rally held yesterday in Istanbul's Besiktas district, participants chanted slogans: "Hrant's killer is the Ergenekon gang."

Gathered in Besiktas Square before a hearing on the murder of Dink at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court, members of a group calling themselves the Friends of Hrant Dink carried placards "Justice for Hrant," "Do you remember January 19 (the date when Dink was slain)" and "Blood flows, state looks."

The spokesperson of the group said that the trial is not being carried out in accordance with the law and added: "We know what happened on January 19. We have been waiting for justice for two years." Stating that the murderers of Dink were on trial in the courthouse located just 50 meters away from them, the spokesperson said, "It is obvious who did what. The killers have owned up to their crimes. Why then is the trial not concluded, even though the criminals are obvious?"

After the statement, the group dispersed without incident.

Editor-in-chief of Agos daily Hrant Dink was killed near the newspaper office in Istanbul on January 19, 2007.