POLICE used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannon against protesters in Turkey’s capital early today, potentially reigniting tensions after two days of relative calm in the country’s biggest anti-government protests in over a decade.

The demonstrations began last week following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Many see the jailing of Mayor Imamoglu on corruption and terrorism charges as politically motivated.

The government insists the judiciary is independent, but critics say the evidence is based on secret witnesses and lacks credibility.

Early this morning, student demonstrators tried to march and gathered to read a statement near the gates at Middle East Technical University, pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV and local media reported. 

They were met by security forces who deployed pepper spray, water cannon and plastic pellets. 

The students hid behind a barricade of dumpsters until the police charged to detain them.

Melih Meric, a legislator with the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was seen soaked with water and suffering from pepper spray exposure. 

He posted to social media that “my student friends only wanted to make a press statement, but the police strictly did not allow it, this is the result.”

Officials have not said how many people were detained.

Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the CHP, to which Mr Imamoglu belongs, had promised that lawmakers would stand alongside protesters in the hope of lowering tensions. 

He also warned on Tuesday that if the police provoked demonstrators he would “make a call for 500,000 people to [come to] the place that will disturb” the authorities the most.

At least 1,400 people were detained during the first six days of the protests, the interior minister said on Tuesday.

Mr Erdogan has accused the opposition of “sinking the economy” by calling for a boycott of companies it says support the government. 

The president said those responsible for hurting financial stability would be held “accountable.”