Turkish police in running battles with earthquake victims

TURKISH police fired into the air yesterday and fought running battles with earthquake victims demanding more government help as hope faded for scores of boys buried under a dormitory flattened by the quake.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan blamed the riot on provocateurs in the town, a centre of Kurdish rebellion in the ’80s and ’90s. But, while defending police actions, he announced the Bingol police chief had been sacked.

“We are all suffering this pain together,” he said. “I appeal to the people of Bingol to be more calm and sensitive.”