Hundreds of thousands of protesters again congregated in Istanbul Saturday to how their support for the city’s imprisoned mayor and demand his release.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday he expressed concern to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan over protests and detentions in Turkey following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul.

Britain on Thursday urged Turkey's government to uphold the rule of law amid mass protests that have followed the arrest of Istanbul's popular opposition mayor. "Because we share a strong and important relationship with Turkey,

Turkey's justice minister said on Thursday the decision to arrest Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was based on criminal reports and not linked to the timing of the opposition CHP party's selection of Imamoglu as its presidential candidate.

ISTANBUL — Police used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannon against protesters in Turkey’s capital early Thursday, the latest clash in the country’s biggest antigovernment protests in over a decade.

Analysts say a convergence of international factors gave Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the opportunity to try to neutralize Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main threat to him in elections due to be held in 2028.

The arrest of Istanbul’s mayor on corruption charges has stoked worries that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is becoming more authoritarian in seeking to sideline a top rival.