POLICE used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannon against protesters in Turkey’s capital early today, potentially reigniting tensions after two days of relative calm in the country’s biggest anti-government protests in over a decade.

The demonstrations began last week following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Many see the jailing of Mayor Imamoglu on corruption and terrorism charges as politically motivated.