Turkish police fire tear gas in May Day disturbances
Tear gas canisters were fired in Istanbul today to prevent hundreds of leftist protesters from marching to mark the 30th anniversary of a deadly Turkish May Day rally.
Authorities declared Taksim Square off limits to protesters but allowed a handful of union leaders to lay wreaths where unidentified gunmen opened fire on tens of thousands of demonstrators during a May Day gathering in 1977.
The incident left 34 people dead, most of whom were killed in a stampede.
Police, carrying riot shields and wearing gas masks, used tear gas to prevent hundreds of protesters from reaching the site.
Police dispersed a group of 300 protesters in Besiktas district and detained more than 80 them, local media said.
Officials had shut down 41 schools in the area for the day, anticipating trouble with protesters or members of outlawed leftist groups who often clash with police during May Day rallies in Turkey.
