Turkey: Authorities and militants killed in clashes in Istanbul's Gazi

Clashes erupted on Thursday evening as hundreds of people protested against the 'counter-terror' activities carried out by the Turkish authorities in the Gazi district of Istanbul. One soldier and one police officer were reportedly killed, with several others injured. As the result of the operation, at least five militants of the pro-Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and several members of the Patriotic Revolutionist Youth Movement (YDG-H), the youth wing of PKK, were reportedly killed, according to Turkish authorities. The protesters hurled petrol bombs and rocks at police officers who fired from armoured vehicles with water cannon and tear gas. The protests continued all through the night. Clashes erupted in Gazi earlier in October after two explosions rocked the Turkish capital and left at least 128 dead at a peace rally. Turkish security forces have been conducting anti-terrorist operations across Turkey since a suicide bombing killed 32 and injured 100 others in Suruc on July 20.