Supporters protest against Israeli attack on Gaza aid flotilla in Turkey

Palestinians ride boats in a preparation ceremony to receive the international aid convoy "Freedom Flotilla" in Gaza Seaport, on May 30, 2010. (Xinhua/Yasser Qudih)Supporters for an international flotilla carrying aid to besieged Gaza held protests in Turkey on Monday against Israeli forces' attack on the flotilla that has killed up to 16 people.

About 200 people gathered in front of the Israeli embassy in Ankara on Monday morning, chanting slogans and waving Turkish and Palestinian national flags, Xinhua witness saw.

Another group of people also protested against the attack in front of the Israeli Consulate General in the Turkish city Istanbul on Monday.

Meanwhile, a Turkish humanitarian aid organization said they lost contact with the ships carrying aid to Gaza after 8:00 a.m. on Monday morning, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Resat Baser, an official with the Human Rights and Freedoms Humanitarian Aid Foundation, said they had received information that the ships were taken to Israel's Haifa Port but could not confirm the information.

Anatolia also said Turkish ministers and high-level officials convened early on Monday after the attack.

Israeli forces on Monday attacked the international convoy of aid ships when trying to stop the flotilla from reaching Gaza, killing up to 16 and wounding more than 30 others, Israeli media reported.


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