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Turkey mine disaster: Tear gas fired at Soma protesters | Turkey mine disaster: Tear gas fired at Soma protesters |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Turkish police have fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of protesters in the eastern town of Soma, where some 300 miners died on Tuesday. | Turkish police have fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of protesters in the eastern town of Soma, where some 300 miners died on Tuesday. |
The demonstrators in the town shouted anti-government slogans. | The demonstrators in the town shouted anti-government slogans. |
The protest occurred after the mine operators held a news conference to deny any negligence over the disaster. | The protest occurred after the mine operators held a news conference to deny any negligence over the disaster. |
There have been angry anti-government rallies across Turkey for the last three days over what has become the country's worst-ever mine disaster. | There have been angry anti-government rallies across Turkey for the last three days over what has become the country's worst-ever mine disaster. |
An explosion sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine's tunnels while 787 miners were underground. | An explosion sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine's tunnels while 787 miners were underground. |
Up to 18 are still missing. Another 363 escaped, while 122 are injured. | Up to 18 are still missing. Another 363 escaped, while 122 are injured. |
'Unexplained' | 'Unexplained' |
Several thousand demonstrators gathered in the centre of Soma on Friday, shouting: "People of Soma, show your solidarity with the miners." | Several thousand demonstrators gathered in the centre of Soma on Friday, shouting: "People of Soma, show your solidarity with the miners." |
They scattered into side streets as police intervened. | They scattered into side streets as police intervened. |
"We have done nothing wrong here," one woman told the BBC. "They don't even let us feel our pain." | |
Earlier, representatives from Soma Holding defended their response to the disaster, telling a news conference that their priority had been to save lives. | Earlier, representatives from Soma Holding defended their response to the disaster, telling a news conference that their priority had been to save lives. |
They added that an unexplained build-up of heat in the mine appeared to have caused the collapse. | They added that an unexplained build-up of heat in the mine appeared to have caused the collapse. |
"There is no negligence of ours in this incident," said plant manager Akin Celik. | |
But Sengiz Shahan, who used to worked at the mine, told the BBC that he and his fellow miners were too afraid to complain of bad safety standards. | |
'Insensitive' | 'Insensitive' |
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that a fire was still burning inside the mine on Friday, but it was "declining". | |
He said anyone negligent about safety at the mine would be punished, adding: "We won't take any notice of their tears." | |
Relatives of the miners who died held prayers on Friday at the cemetery in Soma where they were buried. | Relatives of the miners who died held prayers on Friday at the cemetery in Soma where they were buried. |
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticised for being insensitive in his reaction to the disaster, by appearing to suggest that it was a fact of life. | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticised for being insensitive in his reaction to the disaster, by appearing to suggest that it was a fact of life. |
And pictures of Mr Erdogan appearing to slap a protester in a local supermarket have been shown in the Turkish media. | And pictures of Mr Erdogan appearing to slap a protester in a local supermarket have been shown in the Turkish media. |
His aide Yusuf Yerkel made headlines on Thursday when photos emerged of him appearing to kick a protester in Soma. | His aide Yusuf Yerkel made headlines on Thursday when photos emerged of him appearing to kick a protester in Soma. |