Turkish riot police on Saturday detained 18 people as they broke up a demonstration to protest NATO warships visiting a port in the south of the country, Anatolia news agency reported.Police used water cannons and tear gas against the protestors -- members of minor left-wing parties -- who refused to disperse and blocked traffic on a road leading to the port of Antalya where ten ships from Italy, the Netherlands and Bulgaria were anchored, it said.
The demonstrators retaliated by pelting the officers with eggs and stones.
The subsequent chase saw 18 demonstrators taken into custody.
Four of the protestors were slightly hurt when they fell while running away from police, the agency said.
Ships from NATO member countries regularly visit the port of Antalya, a popular tourist resort on the Mediterranean.
Turkey is preparing to host a NATO summit in its biggest city Istanbul on June 28-29 which will be attended by US President George W. Bush and several other Western leaders.
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