Turkish Police Fire Tear Gas On IMF Protesters

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -- Turkish police have fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse hundreds of people protesting against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings in Istanbul.

Riot police armed with shields and firing gas canisters rushed to disperse protesters in Taksim square, only a few hundred meters from the IMF-World Bank meetings.

Police detained eight people for throwing petrol bombs near the convention centre where finance ministers, central bankers, and economists have been meeting to discuss the global economy.

Demonstrators held aloft a black banner saying "IMF-DB (World Bank) go home."

Protesters huddled in hotel and shop entrances rubbing their eyes affected tear by gas fired into the crowd by riot police. Some covered their faces with red scarves. The main pedestrian Istiklal street was empty as people fled the clashes.