Some 200 protesters hurled stones and firebombs at shops, homes and cars in one of Istanbul's busiest districts Dec. 13, denouncing a court decision to close down a pro-Kurdish party on charges of ties to rebels.

More than 80 people were detained at demonstrations protesting the Dec. 11 decision by the country's top court to disband the Democratic Society Party (DTP) because of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The ban has cast doubts over government efforts to grant Kurds greater rights in a bid to end a conflict with the autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels.