Thousands of peaceful demonstrators have gathered in the southern province of Mersin Thursday afternoon to protest against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who is visiting the city today to open 2013 Mediterranean Games.

Two separate protest rallies are taking place in the city, with thousands saying they don't want Erdoğan in their city.

A number of riot control vehicles and hundreds of riot police have attacked the demonstrators peacefully protesting in front of Forum shopping center, not allowing them to start their march to the stadium where the opening of Mediterranean Games will be made in the evening.Helicopters are flying over the area. Strict security measures have been taken across the city today before the opening and PM Erdoğan's arrival in the city.

In preparation for the visit, police raided the resistance camp in the city's main Barış square with a night raid around 02:30 on Thursday. They removed all the banners and seized protestors' materials, tents and belongings, including inthe refrigerators at the commune kitchen formed in the area.