Police use water cannon in clashes with protesters as violence goes on into the night

(12 Mar 2014) Riot police clashed with anti-government protesters in Istanbul and other Turkish cities following Wednesday's funeral of a teenager, who had been in a coma since a police tear-gas canister struck him in the head last year. Police used a water cannon and tear gas to stop a crowd of thousands from reaching Istanbul's main square following the funeral service for 15-year old Berkin Elvan. Several people were detained. Anti-government protests have flared since Berkin's death on Tuesday. Protesters' anger is focused on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in part, because he is blamed for ordering often heavy-handed crackdowns on anti-government protests since June 2013 and has lauded the riot police as heroes. Eight people, including Berkin, were mortally wounded in last summer's street clashes. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...