Peace for the World

Peace for the World
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Thursday, May 15, 2014

Turkey mine disaster: unions launch national strike – live updates

The Guardian homeThursday 15 May 2014
    Thousands rally in Istanbul on Wednesday to protest at Turkey's record on mine safetyPressure is mounting on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after his aide Yusuf Yerkel (right) was photographed kicking a protester in Soma.
  • Death toll rises to 282 in Turkey's worst mine disaster
  • Anger mounting at Erdoğan's response to mine safety
  • Erdoğan aide admits kicking protester
  • Unions say privatisation has made mining more dangerous
  • More bodies recovered from the Soma mine
  • Read the latest summary 
  • Rows of newly dug graves for the mine accident victims in Soma.Pressure is mounting on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after his aide Yusuf Yerkel (right) was photographed kicking a protester in Soma during a visit to the scene of Tuesday's mining disaster. Photograph: Emrah Gurel/APHere's a summary of the main events so far today:
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    • Turkish unions held a one-day strike to protest against mine safety standards after 282 people were killed in the country's worst ever mining accident. Protests have been reported in several towns and cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Zonguldak. In Soma itself protesters were chanted: "Soma's coal with burn the government."
    • The funerals have been taking place for some of the victims. Mourners sang laments for their loved ones as more graves were dug. 
    • The eventual death toll could exceed 400 as more bodies emerge from the Soma mine. Turkey's energy minister Taner Yildiz said rescue teams have recovered eight more victims raising the current death toll to 282. There are thought to be up to 150 miners still underground, and no survivors have been rescued since Wednesday morning. 
    • Police fired water cannon and tear at thousands of protesters in Izmir. A union leader was injured in the crackdown.
    • Mounting political anger about the tragedy is being fuelled by photographs showing an aide to Recep Tayyip Erdogan kicking a protester as the prime minister received a hostile reception in Soma on Wednesday. The aide, a former graduate student at the University of London's SOAS, is due to make a statement later today. Inconclusive video has also emerged appearing to show Erdogan in a skirmish with a protester as he took refuge in a supermarket. President Abdullah Gül was heckled as he visited Soma on Thursday
    • Full Story>>>>
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