A Turkish court on Thursday freed seven journalists detained for covering mass protests roiling the country including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, his lawyer said. Police broke up an anti-government protest in Ankara,potentially reigniting tensions after the arrest of Istanbul MayorEkrem Imamoglu.

Yasin Akgul, 35, was one ofseven Turkish journalists arrested this weekafter days of covering mass protests that erupted on March 19 whenIstanbulMayorEkrem ImamogluPresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rivalwas arrested.

Akgul and his colleagues were arrested at their homes before dawn and charged with "taking part in illegal rallies and marches and failing to disperse despite warnings", court documents showed.

Read moreTurkey jails journalists covering Istanbul protests, France expresses 'deep concern'

On Thursday, an Istanbul court released Akgul and the six other journalists after their lawyers objected to their pre-trial detention, according to Turkish media reports.

Turkey's broadcasting watchdog RTUK said later on Thursday that it was imposing a 10-day broadcast ban on opposition TV channel Sozcu over claims of incitement in its coverage of mass protests.

"The broadcaster... was given a 10-day broadcast suspension," the regulator said in a statement, pointing to alleged violations linked to incitement to "hatred and hostility".

If the channel is found guilty of a further "violation" after the ban expires, its licence will be revoked, RTUK said.

The announcement came as the BBC said Turkey had deported one of its journalists who was covering the protests on grounds he posed "a threat to public order".

BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen was taken from his Istanbul hotel on Wednesday in what BBC News CEO Deborah Turness called "an extremely troubling incident".

Turkey ranks 158 out of 180 countries listed in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index compiled by RSF.

Police break up student protest

Meanwhile in the capital, Ankara, police used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannon against protesters in Turkey's capital early Thursday, potentially reigniting tensions after two days of relative calm in the country's biggest anti-government protests in over a decade.

The demonstrations began last week following Imamoglu's arrest oncorruptioncharges, which many see as politically motivated. The opposition leader is also accused of supporting terrorism. The government insists the judiciary is independent, but critics say the evidence is based on secret witnesses and lacks credibility.

Early Thursday, student demonstrators tried to march and gathered to read a statement near the gates at Middle East Technical University, pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV and local media reported. They were met by security forces who deployed pepper spray, water cannon and plastic pellets. A standoff ensued where the students hid behind a barricade of dumpsters until the police charged to detain them.

Melih Meric, a legislator from the opposition Republican Peoples Party or CHP, was seen soaked with water and suffering from pepper spray exposure. My student friends only wanted to make a press statement, but the police strictly did not allow it, this is the result," Meric said in social media videos.

Officials have not said how many people were detained.

Ozgur Ozel, the leader of party to which Imamoglu belongs, had promised that lawmakers would stand alongside protesters in the hope of lowering tensions. He also warned Tuesday that if the police provoked demonstrators he would make a call for 500,000 people to (come to) the place that will disturb the authorities the most.

At least 1,400 people were detained first six days of the protests, the interior minister said Tuesday.

Erdogan accuses opposition of 'sinking the economy'

Demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands have swept across major cities, including opposition-organized rallies outside Istanbul City Hall. Other major protests have been held in Istanbul's districts of Kadikoy and Sisli districts in recent days.

Erdogan has accused the opposition of sinking the economy by calling for a boycott of companies it says support the governmen. The president said those responsible for hurting financial stability would be held accountable."

Meanwhile, Imamoglu, speaking from prison via social media Wednesday, denounced police violence against protesters, I cannot call them police because my honorable police would not commit this cruelty to the young children of the nation, he said.

Imamoglu has been confirmed as themain opposition party's candidate for presidential electionsdue in 2028 but which could come earlier. He has performed well in recent polls against Erdogan, for whom his election as mayor of Turkeys largest city in 2019 was a major blow.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)

Originally published on France24