Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in Ankara on Wednesday, as members of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) rallied against the military alliance with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, warning that the agreement could drag their country into war.
Footage shows protesters scuffling with security personnel, with one demonstrator thrown to the ground during the confrontation.
Others are seen chanting anti-war slogans and holding a banner reading: "We will not allow you to drag the country into war."
Demonstrators shouted "Do not surrender, say no to war", "We will not be soldiers for the United States" and "We will not be soldiers for the Saudis," voicing their opposition to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
Turkish media quoted TKP Central Committee member Ali Ufuk Arikan as fiercely condemning the pact and pledging to resist any attempt to involve Turkish troops in foreign military operations.
"We will defend our country. And we will tell the occupiers, imperialists, and Zionists that there are revolutionaries in this country. And we promise you that we will not allow you to turn the soldiers of this country into soldiers serving those bastards," he declared.
The protest followed Turkey's decision to submit the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement to parliament for ratification, after signing the pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on August 7.
Under the agreement, an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all, raising concerns among opponents that Turkish forces could be drawn into regional conflicts.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan insisted on October 8 that the alliance was 'defensive' rather than 'offensive', ruling out sending Turkish troops into another country to launch attacks.
Ankara has been considering military assistance to Saudi Arabia, particularly air defense and technical support, as Riyadh faces retaliatory attacks by Yemen's forces.
(Source: RT)
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