Turkish police break up 'violence against women' protest

ISTANBUL: Riot police fired pepper gas to disperse demonstrators who gathered in Istanbul on Thursday to protest violence against women, some chanting "government resign", nearly five months after Turkey withdrew from a treaty on the issue.

The group of several thousand, mostly women, marched to the city centre's Taksim Square, blocked off with barriers amid a heavy police presence. The police fired the gas and scuffled with the protesters after urging the crowd to disperse.

The protest, held to mark the international day for the elimination of violence against women, coincided with other small anti-government protests this week over the sharp slide in the value of the lira currency.

The protesters chanted and help up banners, demanding urgent action against gender-based violence in Turkey.

"We are not silent, not afraid, not obeying," chanted the demonstrators, who rushed at the police barriers.

At the start of July, Turkey withdrew from an international treaty to combat violence against women, known as the Istanbul Convention and negotiated in Turkey's biggest city in 2011, in a move strongly criticised by Western allies.

Erdogan announced the withdrawal in March, saying Turkey would use local laws to protect women's rights.