Thousands of people turned out to protest the rising cost of living in Turkey at a demonstration in Diyarbakir in the southeast of the country, an AFP journalist reported.
There was a significant police presence in the Kurd-majority region for the march, which was organized by the KESK, a confederation of public service workers unions, in response to sharp price rises in recent months.
They were also demanding the reinstatement of tens of thousands of public sectors who were sacked after the failed July 2016 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey's economy has been suffering from the plummeting value of the Turkish Lira, a casualty of the diplomatic strains with the United States this summer and of market nervousness towards the government's economic policy.
Inflation surged to 25.24 percent in October, a 15-year high, before dropping back to 21.62 percent in November -- but ordinary people are feeling it in their pockets.
Some of the demonstrators praised the “yellow vests” protests in France, which started in response to fuel price rises but broadened out into anti-government protests.
-
Thousands of ‘yellow vests’ hit French streets in fifth Saturday of protests
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of French cities on Saturday in the fifth weekend of nationwide demonstrations against Emmanuel ... World News -
How Iran, Turkey use Qatar to undermine regional security and US interest
Not only did the statements from Iranian and Turkish officials during the Doha Forum recently, underline simmering tension within the Arab Gulf region ... Gulf -
Erdogan blasts presenter for asking about peaceful protests in Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday blasted television news anchor Fatih Portakal over his questioning of whether it was possible to ... Television & Radio