Turks Vow To Keep Protesting Even As Erdogan Says 'Show' Will End

Rallies Sparked By Jailing Of Istanbul's Mayor, President's Main Political Rival

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ISTANBUL - Many Turkish anti-government protesters said they were bracing themselves for a long-term stand-off after six nights of action and scattered clashes with police over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, rejecting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's claim that their "show" will fizzle out.

The largest protests in a decade began last week when Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — Mr Erdogan's main rival — was detained in what protesters, opposition parties, European leaders and rights groups called a politicised and anti-democratic move.

Each evening since, hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in squares, streets and university campuses nationwide chanting anti-Erdogan slogans and calling not only for Imamoglu's release but also for justice and rights.

The gatherings are banned but have nonetheless carried on — almost entirely peacefully until the late hours when police used clubs and pepper spray in response to projectiles to make more than 1,000 arrests in total.