Turkey on Thursday rejected international criticism of its crackdown on protests by students opposing the appointment of a government loyalist to head Istanbul's top university, warning countries to stay out of its domestic issues.
Hours after the government's statement, further unrest erupted in Istanbul after police tried to disperse demonstrators, including lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish HDP party, who had taken to the streets in support of the students.
For weeks, students and faculty members of Bogazici University have been protesting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's appointment of Melih Bulu, an academic who once ran for parliament as a candidate for Erdogan's party.
They are calling for Bulu's resignation as the university's rector and for the university to be allowed to elect its own president.
Officials from the United States, the United Nations and the European Union have criticized Turkey's handling of the protests, as well as a series of anti-LGTB comments that were made by Erdogan and other officials while denouncing the demonstrations.
(AP)
