US VESSELS IN PORT; STUDENTS MARCHING; SPEAKERS; RIOT POLICE.




Initials TS/VS/JH/SC



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Background: THOUSANDS OF TURKISH STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED IN ISTANBUL ON TUESDAY IN PROTEST AGAINST A VISIT BY VESSELS OF THE US SIXTH FLEET, AND ONE OF THEIR LEADERS THREATENED SUICIDE BY FIRE UNLESS THE WARSHIPS LEFT WITHIN 48 HOURS. HUNDREDS OF RIOT POLICE WERE ON DUTY TO STOP THE STUDENTS GETTING TO THE US EMBASSY, AND 18 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN CLASHES WITH THE POLICE.

RIOT POLICE SEALED OFF PRINCIPAL STREETS DURING THE MARCH ON THE SECOND DAY OF STUDENT AGITATION AGAINST A FIVE-DAY VISIT OF THE US AIRCRAFT CARRIER FORRESTAL AND FIVE DESTROYERS, WHICH ARRIVED ON MONDAY (10 FEBRUARY).

THE STUDENTS MARCHED ALONG ISTANBUL'S SEA-FRONT TO THE REPUBLIC MONUMENT IN TAKSIM SQUARE, WHERE THEY WERE ADDRESSED BY STUDENT LEADERS. ONE OF THE LEADERS, MUZAFFER KOKLU, SAID THAT IF THE "REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICAN IMPERIALISM" DID NOT LEAVE WITHIN 48 HOURS, HE WOULD COMMIT SUICIDE BY FIRE.

CLASHES WITH THE POLICE CAME IN TAKSIM SQUARE WHEN THE STUDENTS BROKE THROUGH MASSIVE POLICE CORDONS TO HURL STONES AT RIOT VEHICLES AND BURN US FLAGS. FIFTEEN STUDENTS AND THREE RIOT POLICEMEN WERE INJURED IN THE CLASH.