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Yesterday (1st of May 2007) Istanbul governor locked up the whole transportation system in Istanbul just not to let DISK (a leftist trade union) and others to have the Mayday celebration in Taksim square. His stupid attitude caused a real warfare; lots of people got stucked in traffic. According to the official reports, 799 protestors got arrested all around the city - many without any reason. Many so-called "ordinary" people suffered from police attack; TVs show one guy who was slapped by a policeman just because he was sitting in a downtown cafe with some friends. Many people got sick related with tear-gas and such chemicals including "ordinary" people. There was a terrible smell and smoke all over Taksim-Beyoglu area. There was also great repression on the media; lots of reporters were beaten and live broadcast wagons of TV channels got arrested for a while just not to make news from Taksim square. Even the VERY mainstream Hurriyet newspaper started an online petition to protest Istanbul governor M. Guler and Minister of Interior Affairs calling the governor "Istanbul dictator".

On the other hand, anarchists managed to enter Taksim square as they have declared a few days ago.

Probably they were the only "illegal" group in there except DISK representatives and those from the organization committee. You can see black flags in the following photo which is widely distributed by the news agencies. Taksim square has been invaded by about 60 anarchists (others
got stuck in traffic or police blockage):
http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/GalleryImages%5CFoto%20Haber%5CTAKS%DD...
Also the first photo of BBC News from Istanbul Mayday shows anarchists with
black flags: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6611789.stm

Although the others started to draw off from the square, surprisingly anarchists did not leave there for a while. Later, while they were leaving
the organization committee invited them again to support them in re-entering Taksim. However after a while a new police attack started; many people injured some got arrested. The clashed went on for some hours in Beyoglu-Istiklal Street. In here no known anarchist got arrested although many injured; however, at least 2 arrests known from anarchists in other places. Here is a video document from mainstream media showing anarchists' in Taksim:
http://video.milliyet.com.tr/videolar.asp?page=1&aranacak=&kanal=2&id=65...