Turk police break up Kurdish protest

The protests follow calls for action to mark Ocalan's arrest

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey -- Turkish police have dispersed hundreds of demonstrators protesting over the disappearance of two Kurdish party activists.

Officers broke up the rally outside the offices of the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP) in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir on Tuesday, saying it was illegal.

The HADEP office is facing possible closure for what the Turkish government says are its links to the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Up to 1,000 protesters gathered, angry at the apparent disappearance of HADEP officials Serdar Tanis and Ebubekir Deniz who were last seen on January 25.

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Demonstrators fled into side streets and witnesses said several people were injured.

HADEP says Tanis and Deniz were taken into custody by paramilitary police in the south-eastern town of Silopi.

The protest comes one day after Kurdish leaders called for a worldwide day of action to mark the second anniversary of the arrest of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Turkey captured Ocalan on February 15, 1999, and after a trial, sentenced him to death for treason for leading the PKK in its armed struggle for Kurdish self-rule.

PKK leaders called on Kurds everywhere to mark the day, saying: "Actions such as demonstrations, marches, blackouts, shop closures, school boycotts, work walkouts, hunger strikes and continual mass protest must be started on February 15."

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Turksih Government Information Service
Kurdish Information Network
HADEP

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