Riot police use water cannons to disperse Taksim Square protesters

2013-06-22 79

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: Riot police used water cannons on Saturday to disperse thousands of protesters in Taksim Square who were staging a commemoration ceremony for protesters killed during clashes.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Istanbul's Taksim Square on Saturday to commemorate protesters killed in clashes but riot police quickly moved in to clear the crowd.

Protesters could be seen throwing huge bunches of carnations at law enforcement officers as they advanced into the melee.

The demonstration quickly grew more frantic as water cannons were brought in to put an end to the vast gathering.

According to the Turkish Medical Association, the protests have left four people, including one policeman, dead, and some 7,500 suffering from injuries ranging from cuts and burns to breathing difficulties from tear gas inhalation.