At least 14 die as Kurdish protesters clash with police

ANKARA, Turkey – Kurdish protesters clashed with police in Turkey leaving at least 14 people dead, and scores were injured Tuesday as demonstrators in Brussels forced their way into the European Parliament, part of Europewide demonstrations against the Islamic State’s advance on a town on the Syrian-Turkish border.

Turkey’s private Dogan news agency reported 8 dead in the eastern city of Diyarbakir and that the other victims died in cities in the east as police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters who burned cars and damaged businesses.

The activists are demanding more help for the besieged Kurdish forces struggling to hold onto the Syrian town of Kobani. Protests were reported in cities across Turkey on Tuesday, after Islamic State fighters backed by tanks and artillery engaged in heavy street battles with the town’s Kurdish defenders.

In Brussels on Tuesday, about 50 protesters smashed a glass door and pushed past police to get into the European Parliament. Once inside, some protesters met Parliament President Martin Schulz, who promised to discuss the Kurds’ plight with NATO and EU leaders.