One of Turkey’s deputy prime ministers has said his government respects the right to non-violent protest and free speech, but must also protect its citizens against violence.

Turkey’s deputy prime minister has offered an apology for a violent crackdown on an environmental protest, in a bid to appease days of anti-government rallies across the country as hundreds of riot police deployed around the prime minister’s office in the capital.

Turkish riot police launched round after round of tear gas against protesters on the fourth day of violent demonstrations as the president and prime minister took competing positions over the unrest.

Syrian rebels captured the country’s largest dam today after days of intense clashes, giving them control over water and electricity supplies for much of the country in a major blow to Bashar Assad’s regime.

Turkey’s interior minister says three people have been killed in an explosion in the capital Ankara that was probably terrorism.

Israel today dropped plans to prosecute dozens of pro-Palestinian activists involved in the Gaza blockade incident, opting instead to deport them all immediately.

Turkish police detained 52 military commanders for allegedly planning to blow up mosques in order to trigger a military takeover and overthrow the Islamic-oriented government.

Hundreds of thousands of pro-secular Turks flooded central Istanbul today to demand the resignation of the government, which they fear is leading Turkey toward Islamic rule.

Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel says he’s “proud” of the tough position Austria staked out in crisis talks on the launch of negotiations with Turkey to join the European Union.

Railways investigators today began a massive inquiry into Turkey’s worst rail disaster.