ISTANBUL, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Thousands marched in Istanbul and Ankara on Sunday after a Turkish appeals court ousted the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
Earlier in the day, police raided the CHP headquarters in Ankara, using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse party officials. Party chairman Ozgur Ozel was taken out of the building.
Ozel later walked toward the Turkish parliament, accompanied by thousands of supporters. Addressing the crowd in a nearby park, he said the party did not recognize the court ruling.
In Istanbul, demonstrations erupted simultaneously at three main locations, drawing support from labor unions, professional organizations, and representatives of several political parties.
Protesters said they had gathered to defend "the will of the people, democracy, and the future of the country."
The appeals court's ruling on Thursday annulled Ozel's election as party chairman, citing procedural irregularities during the party's 2023 congress. The court named his predecessor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as interim leader. ■
