Clashes continue in Turkey

ANKARA - Clashes between protesters and police erupted in the Istanbul neighborhood of Gazi late Friday as demonstrations sparked by the demolition of Gezi Park continued for the 12th day, private Dogan news agency reported on Saturday.

Anti-government protesters shout slogans, wave flags and raise a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, during a demonstration in central Ankara June 7, 2013.[Photo/Agencies]

Police attacked a group of around 5,000 protesters that had erected barricades on the road with tear gas and water cannon, said the report, adding that the protesters reportedly responded with fireworks and slingshots.

Tension has also risen in the suburb of Istanbul, a neighborhood that is known for its oppositional sentiment and its high Alevi population.

Turkish people protested against the demolition of Taksim's Gezi Park over a week ago, which later turned into clashes between police and protesters.

The anti-government protests have spread to 67 provinces, including Ankara and coastal cities of Antalya and Izmir. The clashes have led to three people dead, more than 4,000 injured and thousands detained.