Kurd Protest: Turks humiliate Kurd leader as London protest ends
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE OCCUPATION of the Greek Embassy in London by Kurdish protesters came to a peaceful end yesterday after politicians joined police negotiators to help reach an agreement.
Shortly after 2pm, 77 protesters, including four women, walked from the building in Holland Park, west London, and were arrested and charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
As the siege wound down, fall-out from the capture by Turkish forces of the Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan continued across Europe.
The Greek government was reeling from outrage over its failure to protect Mr Ocalan. Three cabinet members, including the Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, were forced to resign and the government's future was in doubt.
In a Turkish island prison,prosecutors began interrogating Mr Ocalan. They also humiliated the rebel leader by forcing him to stand between two Turkish flags to be filmed.
With the Kurdish insurgents rudderless, the Turkish army kept up its latest incursion into neighbouring northern Iraq in pursuit of rebels seeking sanctuary. Troops backed by helicopters and warplanes pursued fighters in northern Iraq for the fourth day running.
In London, the human-rights lawyer Gareth Peirce wasinvolved in final negotiations and agreed to represent those arrested. The end of the occupation ended three days of tension: with many Kurdish supporters demonstrating in the streets next to the embassy and keeping up a 24-hour vigil, police had been concerned that the situation could flare at any moment.
Police said that the sole hostage, the embassy caretaker, Babis Patsouris, was in good health. He declined to comment on his ordeal, which began when the Kurds forced the door of the embassy.
It took less than an hour for all the Kurds to leave the building yesterday, to be searched and arrested and driven away to be charged.
Police said that they were remaining on the alert and that up to 500 Kurdish demonstrators remained in streets near the embassy last night.
Kurd protests,
pages 12 and 13
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments