Some 200 people demonstrated in Ankara Monday to voice their anger against Israel and the United States over the continuing violence in the Middle East, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Carrying banners which read "Independence to the Palestinians", the protestors, mainly from minor political parties, first observed a minute of silence for the Palestinians who lost their lives in clashes with Israeli troops since the violence broke out nearly three weeks ago, the report said.
"The United States, get out of the Middle East, the Palestinians are not alone," chanted the demonstrators in a park in the Turkish capital's downtown Kizilay district.
A press statement read out by a protestor accused Israel of "taking strength from US imperialism" and called for an immediate end to the bloody clashes in the region.
A large contingent of police officers were present at the scene, but they did not intervene and the protestors dispersed peacefully, Anatolia added.
Predominantly Muslim Turkey, which has close ties both with Israel and the Palestinians, has repeatedly urged the two sides to stop violence and resume talks – ANKARA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
