US Consul condemns attacks to Ramadan event


Protesters wreaked havoc on Tuesday at a fast breaking (iftar) dinner organized by the U.S. Consulate in Adana in cooperation with the municipality of Diyarbakır in southeastern Turkey causing injuries to seven people including a police officer in the ensuing clashes between the protesters and the police.The US Consul in Adana, John L Espinoza condemned the attack at the event where members from 72 non-governmental organizations, including labor groups, gathered in Dağkapı Square in Diyarbakır to boycott the function. Some among the group attacked the municipality's tent where the dinner was due to take place, throwing eggs and firecrackers, and breaking tables and chairs."We hosted a dinner event last year in the same place and it was welcomed by the local community," Espinoza said of the event which was held during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.Espinoza remarked that the consulate knew that the protesters did not represent the residents of Diyarbakır, and added: "We support the right to protest, however, throwing dishes is an unacceptable act and we condemn that.""We will not allow anything to damage the relations between Turkey and the United States," he added.It remains unclear as to the reason why the protesters objected to the event, but it is suspected that it was a reaction to the U.S.'s support for Israel's continuous military operations against Gaza.