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At Least 18 Killed in Clashes Between Turkish Police, Kurds

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Kurdish protesters throw stones as they clash with riot police (foreground) in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Oct. 8, 2014.
Kurdish protesters throw stones as they clash with riot police (foreground) in Diyarbakir, Turkey, Oct. 8, 2014.

At least 18 people are dead in Turkey after clashes between police and pro-Kurdish protesters who want the government to help Kurds in neighboring Syria battle Islamic State militants.

Demonstrations in Turkey
Demonstrations in Turkey

At least eight of the deaths Tuesday happened in the main Kurdish town of Diyabakir in southern Turkey, while others died in Mus, Siirt and Batman.

Turkey's parliament authorized the use of force against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria last week, but the military has not crossed the border to intervene in the Syrian city of Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab.

Kurdish fighters in Kobani have spent weeks battling the militants.

Turkey's president said Tuesday the town may soon fall without ground action.

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