Riot Police Break Up Ankara Demonstration

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WATCH: Riot police used water cannons and smoke grenades to disperse hundreds of antigovernment protesters in the Turkish capital, Ankara, early on June 26, a day after police arrested around 20 people in connection with ongoing protests across the country. (Reuters video)

Riot police used water cannons and smoke grenades against hundreds of antigovernment demonstrators in Ankara early on June 26.

A day earlier, Turkish antiterrorism police detained 20 people in raids in the Turkish capital in connection with weeks of protests across the country.

The unrest began at the end of May when police used force against campaigners opposed to plans to redevelop a central Istanbul park.

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The protest widened into broader demonstrations against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted government.

Protests have lessened in recent days after a period of violent clashes.

Erdogan has responded by holding mass rallies across the country.

He has called the protests a plot against Turkey and has defended the police response.

So far, four people have been killed and 7,500 injured during the weeks of protests.

Based on reporting by Reuters