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Turkish police halt May Day rally Hundreds detained in Turkey rally
(30 minutes later)
Turkish police have arrested at least 80 left-wing demonstrators who were trying to hold a May Day rally in the commercial capital Istanbul. Nearly 600 people have been arrested in Istanbul as police launched a dramatic clampdown on left-wing demonstrators trying to hold a May Day rally.
Police fired tear gas and used batons to prevent the rally taking place on Taksim Square. Officers fired tear gas and used batons to stop the crowd marching to Taksim Square, where they were due to mark the 30th anniversary of "Bloody May Day".
The authorities sealed off several roads in central Istanbul. Thirty-four people died in 1977 after a gunman fired, triggering a stampede.
Trade unionists wanted to commemorate victims of an attack on May Day 1977, when gunmen opened fire on peaceful demonstrators. More than 30 died then. This year's rally is taking place in a country already tense over a disputed presidential election.
Police on Tuesday allowed only a handful of trade union leaders to lay red carnations in memory of those who died in 1977. The constitutional court is currently examining an opposition call to cancel the election of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as president. The first round of parliamentary voting ended in disarray on Friday.
Police also stopped television crews setting up satellite dishes in the square, although one channel filmed events from a nearby building. Transport paralysed
The clash came as the constitutional court was examining an opposition call to cancel the election of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as president. The first round of parliamentary voting ended in disarray on Friday. After some violent clashes in one area of the city, a handful of trade union leaders were allowed into the square to lay red carnations in memory of those who died in 1977.
HAVE YOUR SAY The AK party has actually done a lot to westernise and democratise Turkey's legal structure Mehmet Tarzi, Istanbul class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6242&edition=1">Send us your comments The election has pitted secularists against the Islamist-rooted AK party, which has an overwhelming majority in parliament. But police stopped television crews setting up satellite dishes in the square - one channel did however film events from a nearby building.
Meanwhile, public transport was paralysed, as the authorities sealed off main roads, cancelled ferries and closed underground stations
HAVE YOUR SAY The AK party has actually done a lot to westernise and democratise Turkey's legal structure Mehmet Tarzi, Istanbul Send us your comments
Although the march was not specifically linked to the ongoing tension over the election, correspondents say some protesters raised their fists and called for the resignation of Prime Minister's Recep Tayyip Erdogan - who supports Mr Gul as president.
The presidential election has pitted secularists against the Islamist-rooted AK party, which has an overwhelming majority in parliament.
The army - seen as a guardian of Turkish secularism - has warned that it will defend the separation of state and religion, the legacy of the state's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.The army - seen as a guardian of Turkish secularism - has warned that it will defend the separation of state and religion, the legacy of the state's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the AK leader, appealed for national unity in a televised address to the nation on Monday. Mr Erdogan, the AK leader, appealed for national unity in a televised address to the nation on Monday.
He put forward Mr Gul as presidential candidate after secularists rallied to stop him running for the presidency himself. On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Istanbul in support of secularism in Turkey.