Rehearsing for 24th of July in the Capital

Symbolic black wreaths were left at the steps of General Directorates of coalition parties in the march of 10 thousand unionists

10 thousand trade unionists and NGO members have protested the government in a march in Ankara yesterday. The demonstration seemed to be a rehearsal for the general rally to be realised on the 24th of July, again in Ankara. Demonstrators laid symbolic black wreaths at the Ankara headquarters of the three coalition parties, urging the government to review of plans to raise the retirement age to 60 for men and 58 for women and the disappointing wage raise of 20%. Members of the unions Turk-Is, DISK, KESK, Kamu-Sen, Hak-Is, Memur-Sen, gathered in front of the Turk-Is general headquarters and walked first to the DSP headquarters, shouting slogans that urge the government to resign. The demonstration resumed with the placing of similar wreaths at the doors of ANAP and MHP, the latter of which has called earlier for the reconsideration of the retirement ages. The reform tops a list of "strategic steps " urged by the IMF concerning a possible package loan to Turkey.