Five MPs hurt as fist fight breaks out in Turkish parliament

Turkish MPs have come to blows during a debate on a controversial bill to give police greater powers over protesters. Ruling party and opposition politicians exchanged punches for the second time in a week as tempers flared in the parliament in Ankara. One opposition MP fell down a set of stairs during the brawl, but was not badly hurt. It comes after five politicians were hurt in scuffles in an overnight session on Tuesday, with two suffering head injuries after being hit by a ceremonial gavel.

I am fine. I will stay here and keep on with the struggle.

Orhan Duzgun, an opposition MP, after falling down some stairs

The opposition is strongly against the government-led bill and earlier in the week promised to keep the draft text from being debated through various parliamentary delaying tactics. Before the latest debate started, opposition MPs carried through their threat by outlining for more than three hours what their objections were, according to the Hurriyet newspaper. Angry words were soon exchanged for punches and kicks. Orhan Duzgun, an opposition MP for the Republican People’s Party, tripped down some steps at one point in the melee. Opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who heads the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), believe he is effectively trying to create a police state.

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