ISTANBUL-ANKARA - 23.03.2003 - Demonstrations were held in Istanbul and Ankara against Iraqi war on Sunday.
The NGO namely Anti-War Coordination organized the demonstration in Beyoglu district of Istanbul and the demonstrators laid a black wreath in front of U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. Other NGOs, trade unions and political parties namely KESK, IHD, DISK- Egitim-Sen, TKP, ODP, EMEP, and SDP attended the demonstration.
Leader of Turkish Communist Party (TKP) Aydemir Guler gave a letter to one U.S. Consulate official asking the U.S. to stop the war.
Addressing the crowd, Sami Evren, the Chairman of Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) said that ''the U.S. wants Turkey to close the Iraqi Embassy in Turkey. We want U.S. diplomats to leave Turkey.''
''We call everybody in Turkey to go on general strike on March 27, Thursday against war and for independent Turkey,'' he added.
Meanwhile another group of 15 persons held an illegal demonstration on Istiklal Street, Beyoglu. Police used tear gas against the group who broke the windows of some business places. Some persons were taken into custody.
In Ankara, the youth branch of the Labour Party (IP) protested the war. They convened near Law Faculty of Ankara University in Cebeci district and later walked to Kýzýlay. Later the group laid black wreath in front of the U.S. Embassy. The group later dispersed.
(ÖS) 23.03.2003