Istanbul police detains leftist activists after 'No' protests: party

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April 19, 2017 3:36 PM

There have been daily street protests in anti-Erdogan neighbourhoods in Istanbul after Sunday's referendum.

Demonstrators are calling for the result of the referendum to be annulled

Istanbul police Wednesday detained several leftist activists involved in demonstrations against the Yes victory in the referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan powers, a party and reports said.

There have been daily street protests in anti-Erdogan neighbourhoods in Istanbul after Sunday's referendum, which the opposition claims was marred by blatant violations.

The Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP), a left-wing movement not represented in parliament, said police had detained its Istanbul chairman Mesut Gecgel early Wednesday on accusations of "agitating the public" by claiming the 'Yes' vote was illegitimate.

Gecgel had himself written on Twitter that he was being detained for protesting against the 'Yes' victory.

The leftist BirGun daily and opposition T24 website said at least five activists had been detained so far while arrest warrants had been issued for a total of 38 people.

Those detained are now reportedly being questioned at police headquarters in central Istanbul.

There was no immediate confirmation of the detentions by the police.

Speaking in Ankara earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the issue of the election result was closed and warned against street protests.

"Turkey is a state of law... and there can be no talk of anarchy, activities in the street," he said.

"I call on people not to give in to provocations or get caught up in incitement," he added.

The 'Yes' camp won Sunday's poll with just 51.41 percent of the vote.

But the the main opposition Republican People's Party has formally requested that the Supreme Election Board (YSK) cancel the result due to alleged violations.

The opposition is particularly incensed by a last-minute move by the YSK to accept ballot documents in envelopes without an official stamp.

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