Turkey May Day protesters clash with police in Istanbul

Turkish police fired teargas, water cannon and rubber bullets to stop May Day protesters, some armed with firebombs, from defying the prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and reaching Istanbul's central Taksim square.

Mr. Erdoğan – who had warned in the previous week he would not let labour unions march on Taksim – said both last year's street protests and a corruption scandal dogging his government since December 20013 were part of a plot to undermine him.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: German President criticises Erdogan during Turkey visit http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-president-criticises-erdogan-during-turkey-visit/

ESO: Background information: Turkey to seek cleric Fethullah Gulen's extradition http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-to-seek-cleric-fethullah-gulens-extradition/

Euronews, 01.05.14: Major May Day violence in Turkey http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/01/major-may-day-violence-in-turkey/

Deutsche Welle, 01.05.14: Clashes in Istanbul as protesters defy May Day demonstration ban http://dw.de/p/1BruJ

The Guardian, 01.05.14: Riot police clash with May Day protesters in Istanbul – in pictures http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2014/may/01/riot-police-may-day-protesters-istanbul-taksim-square-in-pictures

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