Turkish riot police storm main opposition party HQ in Ankara

Turkish riot police used force and tear gas to take over the Ankara headquarters of the main opposition party CHP. The raid followed a court decision to remove the party's leadership. AFP journalists witnessed the incident.

Turkish riot police stormed the Ankara headquarters of the country's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), using force and tear gas during the operation. The dramatic scene was witnessed and reported by AFP journalists on the ground.

The police action came after a court issued a ruling removing the CHP's leadership from their positions. The storming of the headquarters marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political tensions between the Turkish government and the opposition.

The CHP is Turkey's largest opposition party and has historically been a major political force in the country. The court-ordered removal of its leadership and the subsequent police raid have raised serious concerns among observers about democratic standards and the rule of law in Turkey.

The incident is likely to draw strong reactions both domestically and internationally, as opposition figures and human rights organizations question the legitimacy of the court ruling and the manner in which police were deployed against a civilian political party's premises in the capital Ankara.