File photo shows Turkish riot police firing tear gas as they clash with Kurdish demonstrators during a protest in support of a hunger strike movement by Kurdish prisoners in Istanbul.[/caption]Police in Turkey have attacked Kurdish demonstrators celebrating the capture of the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain by Kurdish fighters after days of clashes with anti-Damascus militants.
The clashes erupted on Friday in the southeastern town of Jizre where security forces fired smoke grenades and used water cannons to disperse the protesters.
The protesters also hurled petrol bombs and fire crackers at armored police vehicles.
After days of clashes with the foreign-backed militants, Syrian Kurds seized control of the border town of Ras al-Ain on Wednesday.
Turkey, which backs foreign-backed militants in Syria, has been concerned by the capture of Ras al-Ain on Syria's northeastern border with Turkey by the Democratic Union Party (PYD).
The Turkish army said on Friday that it has responded to fire coming from the Syrian side of the border.
"The Turkish army fired at predetermined targets near Syria's Tal-Khalaf village (southwest of Ras al-Ain) with machine guns as part of the rules of engagement," The Turkish General Staff said in a statement issued on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Turkey deployed military units along its border with Syria following clashes between the PYD and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front, said a report by Turkeys Hurriyet Daily News.
The Syria crisis began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.
The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.
Damascus says the West and its regional allies, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are supporting the militants.
By Press TV
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