200 000 Turks attend first Taksim Square demonstration in 30 years

Istanbul - Over 200,000 people on Saturday took part in the first officially approved May Day demonstrations in Istanbul's central Taksim Square in 30 years.

May Day gatherings had been banned from the square since 1977, when 36 people were killed in clashes. Unknown assailants fired shots into the crowd and in the resulting panic many people were trampled to death.

By Saturday afternoon only a few minor incidents of stone-throwing had taken place, officials said.

Demonstrators demanded more secure employment and better working conditions.

Over 20,000 police officers were out on the streets to control the crowds.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/321527,200-000-turks-attend-first-taksim-square-demonstration-in-30-years.html.