Turkey issues travel warning for Chile over protests

By Mehmet Alaca

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Tuesday issued a warning to its citizens traveling to Chile over mass protests in the country.

Considering the developments in Chile, it is recommended that Turkish citizens -- who live in the region or plan to travel there -- stay away from crowds, follow the latest developments and review their travel plans in this context, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry noted that demonstrations at the international airport in Santiago, the capital of Chile, have disrupted its operation and have led to problems regarding transportation.

It will be useful for Turkish citizens to closely follow the social media accounts of the Turkish Embassy in Santiago, it said.

Hundreds of protesters stormed metro stations in Santiago, with protests turning violent after security forces used force against the demonstrators jumping over turnstiles without paying the fare.

Police responded with tear gas after protesters broke turnstiles and windows at some metro stations.

The Chilean government declared a 15-day state of emergency on Saturday, extending it later from north to south.