Thousands demonstrate during Protests staged across Turkey over tapes incriminating PM Erdogan and son.

Thousands demonstrate during Protests staged across Turkey over tapes incriminating PM Erdogan and son.(HD).

Several protests were held in Turkey’s main cities on Feb. 25 to denounce the latest leaked tapes featuring a conversation between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his son over the hiding of a large sum of cash in the wake of the Dec. 17.

Police crushed protests on Istanbul with tear gas and water cannons as hundreds gathered in the Asian-side district of Kadıköy, calling on the government to resign.

The intervention started after protesters attempted to march in front of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) district headquarters, Doğan news agency reported.

Police also resorted to tear gas and water cannon during protests in Ankara and İzmir. Other demonstrations were staged in İzmit, Trabzon, Eskişehir, Bursa, Antalya, Antakya and Çanakkale. 

The latest tapes to emerge amid a massive graft scandal are sending shockwaves through Turkish politics, with the government denying claims as “fabrications” and the opposition urging Erdoğan to resign.

                                           New demonstrations starting again this morning.