Riot police officers clash with protesters during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested.
For a sixth night in succession, protestors have vowed to take to the streets of Istanbul tonight in what has become the greatest challenge to the rule of President Erdogan in a decade.
Turkey's long-time leader has dismissed the demonstrations as "street terrorism" and deployed his security forces, firing tear gas, to disperse them.
So far; to no avail. For Erdogan has also given his critics a cause around which to rally - the opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu, now languishing in a high security jail on charges of bribery, corruption and fraud - charges he's called "laughable."
Imamoglu has also been relieved of his duties as mayor of Istanbul - where he rattled Erdogan by winning power in 2019.
Yesterday, despite his absence behind bars, he was adopted by his party as presidential candidate.
The next election isn't due until 2028 and Erdogan must either rewrite the constitution or call a snap poll if he wants yet another term in power.
Whatever option, critics believe he doesn't want Imamoglu around as a challenger.
Rampant inflation and an acute cost of living crisis have undermined Erdogan's popularity.
But criticism from western capitals has been muted. With Nato's second biggest military, Turkey is a key player in neighbouring Syria and perhaps in the future of peace keeping in Ukraine.
Erdogan has a habit of surviving, but some commentators believe this time he has crossed a line.
Hundreds have been arrested - demonstrators, critics and journalists. Access to social media has been curtailed and students apparently locked in the university to prevent them joining protests.
After years of increasingly authoritarian rule, many believe it is not just Erdogan's future being decided, but what remains of Turkey's democracy as well.
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