Istanbul | PLACE

Turkish Kurds attempt to build a human tower during a rally along with other supporters as they wave Kurdish flags and chant slogan to celebrate the Kurdish New Year, known as 'Nowruz', on March 21, 2010 in Istanbul.'Nowruz', the Farsi-language word for 'new year', is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Turkey, Central Asian republics, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish Kurds hold up Kurdish flags and chant slogan during a rally to celebrate the Kurdish New Year, known as 'Nowruz', on March 21, 2010 in Istanbul.'Nowruz', the Farsi-language word for 'new year', is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Turkey, Central Asian republics, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish Kurds attempt to build a human tower during a rally along with other supporters as they wave Kurdish flags and chant slogan around the flames to celebrate the Kurdish New Year, known as 'Nowruz', on March 21, 2010 in Istanbul.'Nowruz', the Farsi-language word for 'new year', is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Turkey, Central Asian republics, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish Kurds wave pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party flags as they chant slogan around the flames during a rally to celebrate the Kurdish New Year, known as 'Nowruz', on March 21, 2010 in Istanbul.'Nowruz', the Farsi-language word for 'new year', is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Turkey, Central Asian republics, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish Kurds hold up Kurdish flags and chant slogan around the flames during a rally to celebrate the Kurdish New Year, known as 'Nowruz', on March 21, 2010 in Istanbul.'Nowruz', the Farsi-language word for 'new year', is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Turkey, Central Asian republics, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish Kurds hold up Kurdish flags and chant slogan around the flames during a rally to celebrate the Kurdish New Year, known as 'Nowruz', on March 21, 2010 in Istanbul.'Nowruz', the Farsi-language word for 'new year', is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Turkey, Central Asian republics, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Iran.

Men jump over a bonfire as Turkish Kurds dance around a bonfires as they celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

Masked men display posters of jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as Turkish Kurds celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

Masked men display posters of jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as Turkish Kurds celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

A masked man holds a poster of jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as Turkish Kurds dance around a bonfire as they celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

A masked man holds a flag of rebel Kurdish group of the PKK as Turkish Kurds dance around a bonfire as they celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish Kurds seen around a bonfire as they celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish Kurds dance around a bonfire as they celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

A masked man holds a poster of jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as Turkish Kurds dance around a bonfire as they celebrate the Nowruz in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 21, 2010. The Nowruz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels. Police intensified security against possible violence in big cities and in southeastern Turkey. Nowruz, the Farsi-language word for "new year", is an ancient Persian festival, celebrated on the first day of spring in Central Asian republics, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran.

A Turkish demonstrator shouts slogans and holds a placard, reading: 'Don't touch my Armenian brother,' during a demonsration on March 20, 2010 in Istanbul against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On March 20, Erdogan said he had no immediate plans to expel illegal Armenian workers after his threat to do so sparked a barrage of criticism at home and abroad. The Turkish media and rights groups accused Erdogan of treating illegal Armenians as a pawn in Ankara's protests after his threat earlier this week to deport thousands of impoverished Armenians working illegally in Turkey.

A Turkish demonstrator shouts slogans and holds a placard, reading: 'Don't touch my Armenian brother,' during a demonsration on March 20, 2010 in Istanbul against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On March 20, Erdogan said he had no immediate plans to expel illegal Armenian workers after his threat to do so sparked a barrage of criticism at home and abroad. The Turkish media and rights groups accused Erdogan of treating illegal Armenians as a pawn in Ankara's protests after his threat earlier this week to deport thousands of impoverished Armenians working illegally in Turkey.

A demonsrator holds up a placard that reads ''You are not alone'' during a demonsration on Istiklal Avenue, in Istanbul, to protest against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on March 19, 2010. Protestors took the streets here Friday, accusing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of racism over his threat to deport illegal Armenian workers in a row over the recognition of Armenian claims of a genocide by Ottoman Turks.

A demonsrator holds up a placard that reads '' You are not alone'' during a demonsration on Istiklal Avenue, in Istanbul, to protest against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on March 19, 2010. Protestors took the streets here Friday, accusing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of racism over his threat to deport illegal Armenian workers in a row over the recognition of Armenian claims of a genocide by Ottoman Turks.

A demonsrator (C) holds up a placard that reads '' You are not alone'' during a demonsration on Istiklal Avenue, in Istanbul, to protest against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on March 19, 2010. Protestors took the streets here Friday, accusing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of racism over his threat to deport illegal Armenian workers in a row over the recognition of Armenian claims of a genocide by Ottoman Turks.

A demonsrator (L) holds up a placard that reads ''You are not alone'' during a demonsration on Istiklal Avenue, in Istanbul, to protest against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on March 19, 2010. Protestors took the streets here Friday, accusing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of racism over his threat to deport illegal Armenian workers in a row over the recognition of Armenian claims of a genocide by Ottoman Turks.