ANKARA/ISTANBUL - May Day was celebrated in Ankara and Istanbul on Saturday.
Non-governmental organizations and labor and civil servant unions held a demonstration in Ankara's Sihhiye Square to mark the May Day.
Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies Enver Oktem and Ismail Degerli, Free Turkey Party leader Ahmet Turhan Demir, Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) leader Tuncer Bakirhan, and members of Free Democracy Party (ODP), Labor Party (IP), Workers' Party (EMEP) and Turkish Socialist Workers' Party (TSIP) joined the demonstration in which participants chanted slogans.
Four thousand policemen were on alert in Ankara due to May 1 celebrations.
In Istanbul, Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) Executive Board and leaders of some unions laid wreath on Taksim Republican Monument as a part of May Day celebrations in Istanbul.
Administrators of Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), Confederation of Public Laborers' Union (KESK), Union of Turkish Architects' and Engineers' Chambers (TMMOB) and Turkish Physicians' Union laid carnations in Taksim and a wreath on Republican Monument.
The group which marched from Sarachane Park to Yenikapi district in Istanbul dispersed peacefully.
The group including members of DISK, KESK, Turkish Physicians' Union, TMMOB and CHP and members of some non-governmental organizations who came to Yenikapi district to mark the May Day dispersed peacefully under police control.
In the meantime, people who wanted to mark May Day at Abide-i Hurriyet Square in Sisli district in Istanbul dispersed peacefully.
(BRC) 01.05.2004