Police wounded in Istanbul siege

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Seven Turkish police officers have been wounded in clashes during a raid on a safe house of a left-wing militant group in Istanbul, officials have said.

A bystander was also shot in the head, witnesses said. TV footage showed a man lying motionless in a pool of blood.

Police units have now surrounded the block of flats in the Bostanci area.

Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said police had conducted raids in more than 60 areas overnight against groups that were planning "sensational attacks".

"These are extreme leftist, separatist and radical groups. There were more than 10 detained in the operations," he told NTV.

"We have seized lots of weapons, bombs and booby traps."

Mr Guler said officials believed there was one militant still alive inside the flat in Bostanci, and that he had a large amount of ammunition.

Police helicopters are hovering above the site, and ambulances and fire trucks are standing by. Smoke is billowing out of the building.

Correspondents say several left-wing militant groups are active in Turkey, including the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).