RIOT IN TURKEY OVER SACKING OF MAYORS

Demonstrators protect each other as they are hit by water cannon during a protest against the replacement of Kurdish mayors with state officials in three cities in eastern Turkey. nThe Turkish government removed three mayors from office on August 19, 2019, over alleged links to Kurdish militants. The mayors of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van provinces in eastern Turkey -- all members of the pro-Kurdish Peoplesu2019 Democratic Party (HDP) elected in March -- were suspended over alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workersu2019 Party (PKK).n Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the dismissals were necessary to u201cprevent the abuse of democracyu201d by people who u201chave used municipal resources to support terroristsu201d. (AFP)