VAN, Turkey, March 22 (UPI) -- Dozens of people reportedly were injured and more were arrested when Kurdish separatist protesters' confrontations with police turned violent in Turkey.

The BBC reported Saturday the worst violence occurred in Van where police protected themselves against rock-throwing protesters with riot shields, and later beat them with batons while using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. The demonstrators reportedly also set up barricades and lit fires in the streets.

The demonstrations coincided with Kurdish spring festivities and followed last month's pursuit of Kurdish rebels into northern Iraq by Turkish forces, the British network reported.

Similar confrontations occurred in Hakkari and Siirt, the BBC said.

A day earlier, demonstrators called out the name of jailed PKK rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan during Nowruz celebrations in Diyarbakir. Police stayed away from that event.

Molotov cocktails allegedly were thrown Friday during protests in Viransehir, and public displays of unrest were noted in Kurdish communities in western Turkey such as Mersin and Izmir, the BBC said.