ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Monday announced an investigation into what the EU termed "disproportionate" use of force by the Istanbul police as it quashed a women's demonstration on Sunday.
"I wish to express my sorrow at the incidents that occurred during an illegal demonstration in Istanbul," Gul told a press conference here.
"Everyone must abide by the law, but when they don't, the police must be very careful in the way they react," Gul said.
He was addressing journalists alongside the European Union troika with whom he had just concluded several hours of talks on Turkey's bid to join the EU.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, Britain's Minister for Europe Denis MacShane and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said they were pleased with the announced probe and said they hoped such incidents would not recur.
Earlier, the three had signed a declaration released in Brussels that said: "We were shocked by images of the police beating women and young people demonstrating in Istanbul."
"On the eve of a visit by the EU during which the rights of women will be an important issue, we are concerned to see such disproportionate force used against demonstrators," it added.
Sixty-three people were detained when riot police broke up one of several demonstrations Sunday in Istanbul ahead of International Women's Day on Tuesday.
Police ordered the 150-strong group, gathered in front of the mayor's office in the European quarter of the city, to disperse on the grounds that their rally was illegal, but the protestors refused, the Anatolia news agency said.
Footage broadcast on the NTV news channel showed officers using truncheons and pepper gas against the protestors and hauling those detained on to buses.
03/07/2005 14:04 GMT