Clashes erupt during Gezi protests in Mersin on the sidelines of Med Games closing event

MERSİN - Doğan News Agency

Tension had been high in Mersin which hosted the Mediterranean Games during the last 10 days. DHa photo

Police intervened in Mersin against a group of 500 protesters gathered June 30 to support the nationwide Gezi Park demonstrations as the Mediterranean Games were concluding in a separate part of town. Seventeen people, including two journalists and a police chief, were injured during the clashes.

The southern coastal city had been hosting the Mediterranean Games and the event's closing event was being held at the Mersin Stadium with the attendance of Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Sports Minister Suat Kılıç and Family Minister Fatma Şahin.

Demonstrators gathered at a nearby shopping mall in an attempt to march to Peace Square in the center of the town. Riot police did not allow the protest and fired tear gas and water cannons to quell the protesters. Some protesters set fire to trash bins and moved tables and chairs from inside the mall in an attempt to prepare barricades.

The journalists and police chief were injured after being hit by objects thrown from the higher floors of the mall, Doğan news agency reported.

Tension had been high in Mersin as police took tight security measures during the 10-day-long Mediterranean Games.