Police use water cannon to disperse supporters of Turkey's main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Izmir, Turkey, Tuesday, during a rally in support of party's deposed leader Ozgur Ozel. [Erdem Sahin/AP Photo]
Riot police in Turkey have used water cannons to prevent people from gathering to hear a speech by the deposed leader of the country’s main opposition party.
Ozgur Ozel and the core leadership of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, were removed from their posts on Thursday by a court order that many people consider to be politically motivated.
Ozel had intended to address supporters on Tuesday in the western Turkish city of Izmir, but those heading to the city’s Cumhuriyet Square found their way blocked by steel barriers and riot police.
Pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV showed many of the largely middle-aged crowd being soaked by water cannon as they tried to reach the square. Local media also reported that police deployed pepper spray.
