Turkey May Day protests draw tear gas near Taksim Square

Protesters in the Besiktas area encountered gas and water cannon as they tried to get to Taksim Square

Riot police in Turkey have used tear gas and water canon to prevent demonstrators defying a ban on protests on Istanbul's central Taksim Square.

Local media showed footage of flag-waving protesters confronting a wall of riot police
Thousands of people have been massing at different spots across the city, the Associated Press news agency said. Many vowed to defy the ban.

Turkish media said some 40,000 police would be deployed in the city on 1 May.
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier warned people they should "give up hopes" of gathering on Taksim Square - a focus of anti-government protests.

Police lines and water cannon were waiting for protesters in the Besiktas area of Istanbul

Some demonstrators threw firecrackers or stones at police

Ahead of the demonstration, there was time for pictures to be taken

Taksim Square is a traditional rallying point (library picture)

But a joint statement from the main trades unions on Wednesday said: "We will be in Taksim despite the irrational and illegal ban. All roads will lead to Taksim on May Day".
Mr Erdogan's party won local elections in March. That was the first vote since mass protests last June, and was seen as a barometer of his popularity.
The prime minister has been eyeing a run for the presidency in August - the first time voters will directly elect the head of state - or may seek to change the rules to allow him to seek a fourth term in office.