28 March 2014
Last updated at 22:02 ET
A taste of Turkey's tense elections
Video Link:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26784602
Turkey
will hold important local elections on Sunday, seen as a key test of
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership. The BBC's James
Reynolds went to pro- and anti-government rallies in Istanbul ahead of
the vote.
Pro- and anti-government factions have held rival demonstrations. The opposition in Istanbul tends to congregate at Taksim Square, in the heart of the city.
In May 2013, protesters took the government by surprise by occupying the square and nearby Gezi Park. The police evicted them two weeks later.
Riot police now maintain a permanent presence in the square, to prevent protesters from retaking the area.
But, as we found, this does not stop demonstrators from attempting to march.
Continue reading the main story
By contrast, pro-government supporters do not have to worry about tear gas or water cannon.
The ruling Islamist-rooted AK Party often organises transport for its members to ensure a large turnout at Mr Erdogan's events. We went along to one rally in Istanbul.
Continue reading the main story
Camera/editing: Goktay Koraltan. Producer: Zeynep Erdim
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered