Turkish police clash with demonstrators near border with Kobani

2014-10-07 23

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STORY: Turkish police clashed with demonstrators who had gathered at the Syrian border on Tuesday (October 7) to witness fighting with Islamic State and to protest

perceived inaction by Turkey against the militants.

More than 20 Turkish tanks had been parked along the border as Islamic State fighters were preparing to wrest control of the nearby strategic Syrian border town of Kobani.

The tanks were on a hillside in circular formation around 1 km (half a mile) from the border with Syria.

Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannon at dozens of the demonstrating youths in a field near the border.

Turkey, a NATO member which shares a 900 kilometre (500 mile) border with Syria and has the most powerful military in the area, has so far refrained from joining the campaign, but the plight of Kobani has increased pressure to act.

Islamic State wants to take Kobani in order to strengthen its grip on the border area