Turkey's Opposition Takes to the Streets After Police Raid

Police intervened at the headquarters of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Ankara on Sunday, using tear gas and forcing their way into the building to remove the leadership of ousted chairman Özgür Özel.

The crackdown came days after a Turkish court nullified the results of the party's 2023 congress and removed Özel as CHP chairman over alleged irregularities in the election. He had been replaced by former party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who lost the 2023 presidential election to Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Tear gas spread through the party building during the raid as CHP members present shouted and threw objects at police officers breaking through makeshift barricades. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Özel emerged from the building after the crackdown and declared in a video posted on X: "We are under attack." He then led hundreds of supporters towards the Turkish parliament. "From now on, the Republican People's Party is on the streets, in the squares, marching towards power", he told the crowd.

(reuters, max)