Turkish police fired teargas and water cannon in Istanbul on Sunday to disperse hundreds of protesters calling for an end to curfews in the south-east, where the military has increased operations against Kurdish militants.

Some protesters threw firebombs at security forces, who responded with teargas. Police responded with water cannon, which raced up and down İstiklal Street, a busy shopping route, firing short bursts at the protesters.

Protesters and tourists used lemons and soft drinks to neutralise the effects of the teargas. Riot police chased protesters down side streets and made arrests as helicopters flew overhead.

Witnesses said stone-throwing teens clashed with police in the adjacent neighbourhood of Tarlabaşı, a hub for Kurds from the south-east.

In Diyarbakır, the symbolic capital of the Kurdish heartland in Turkey, residents reported violent clashes between the youth wing of the Kurdistan Workers’ party, or PKK, and police in the district of Sur.



About 10,000 troops backed by tanks have been deployed to the area, according to local media. The military reported a soldier wounded on Saturday had died, but vowed to continue operations “until public security is established”. The military also reported the death of 11 PKK militants.