Officers forced their way into the building days after the party vowed to defy a court ruling removing its leaders.

Turkish riot police forced their way into the headquarters of the country’s main opposition party on Sunday, days after a court dismissed its leadership.

Clouds of tear gas billowed outside the Republican People’s Party (CHP) building in Ankara, where party members had blocked the entrances with a makeshift barricade.

Footage from the scene showed those inside shouting and throwing objects towards the entrance, and police being sprayed with hoses. (…)

Human Rights Watch warned on Saturday that Erdoğan’s government was undermining Turkish democracy with “abusive tactics” against the CHP.