- ISTANBUL: Police have detained dozens of protesters who briefly occupied a Spanish culture center in Istanbul to draw attention to the plight of 10,000 tobacco workers laid off by the Turkish government.
The protesters had unfurled banners from the Cervantes Institute's windows while shouting slogans urging the government to meet workers' demands for new jobs. The government has offered work elsewhere but only on 11-month renewable contracts.
Police broke up Wednesday's demonstration and detained the protesters. Such demonstrations at international sites are usually aimed at attracting global media attention.
The workers also have demonstrated across Turkey for weeks after being fired when Tekel was sold to British American Tobacco Investments Ltd.