ANKARA, Turkey, March 14 (UPI) -- Two more people are dead as protests continue in Turkey calling for scandal-ridden Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to resign.
One of the casualties was a police officer who had a heart attack during clashes with the protesters. The other is 22-year-old Khalil Karamanoğlu who was reportedly shot in the head as he watched the protests with friends in Istanbul.
The tension has built as Erdoğan has faced multiple corruption scandals and tightened controls on the Internet. Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as an attempt to disrupt the country ahead of upcoming elections.
"You were supposed to be democrats, pro-freedom. These are charlatans, they have nothing to do with democracy, they do not believe in the ballot box." said Erdoğan.
Tensions are mounting as frustration builds and police are reportedly cracking down by using water cannons and tear gas.
[HuffPost Live]
