blank

Voice of America ®

Trusted Source of News & Information since 1942

About VOA | Contact VOA News

  • Sunday, 22 November 2009
  • Latest News:

News RSS Feeds RSS Feed

Kurds, Police Clash in Southeast Turkey; 2nd Demonstrator Killed

Share This

A second demonstrator has been shot dead during clashes between Turkish police and Kurdish protesters in southeastern Turkey.

Celebrations marking the Kurdish New Year, Nowroz, have turned into protests supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, during the past three days.

Demonstrations and clashes with Turkish police have been reported in Van, Yusekova and other cities.

Turkish police say at least 60 people, including protesters and officers, were injured in clashes on Saturday.   Police say they detained at least 160 people.

Kurdish activists often use the Nowroz festival - a traditional new year celebration that marks the arrival of spring - to highlight demands for autonomy and other rights. 

The PKK has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast for nearly 25 years, and violence during that time has killed more than 30,000 people. 

Turkey, the United States and other nations have designated the PKK a terrorist group.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP .

Welcome to the new VOANews.com


We'd like to hear what you think of the site - please e-mail us: VOANews@VOANews.com

Video Features

From the Newsroom

From the Newsroom

Afghan Politics - Analysis by Gary Thomas

More »

GoingGreen

Going Green

Watch: The United States debates cutting its carbon dioxide emissions.

More »

Money in Motion

Money in Motion

Watch: Will the declining dollar remain the world's reserve currency?

More »

Now You Know

Now You Know

Watch: A look at the origin and history of the Internet.

More »

The Link

The Link

Have you discovered a Web link you'd like to share with the world?

More »

Most Popular Articles

Special Reports

VOA Blogs

Most E-mailed Articles