Ankara - A hunger strike by inmates and their relatives protesting prison conditions claimed the lives of three women yesterday, bringing the death toll to 17 since the fasts began, the Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD) said.
Twelve inmates and two relatives of prisoners had already died since March 21st. Around 800 inmates in 29 prisons, including a number of women, are taking part in the hunger strike.
Police in the south-east town of Diyarbakir yesterday used truncheons to disperse about 250 people demonstrating against the government's attitude towards the hunger strikers. Police made five arrests.