Turkish authorities have detained the mayor of Istanbul, just days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate, writes BBC.

Ekrem Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People"s Party (CHP), is seen as one of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strongest political rivals. Prosecutors accused him of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a “criminal organisation leader suspect”.

Police detained 100 people - including other politicians, journalists and businessmen - as part of the investigation, and the Istanbul governor"s office has imposed four days of restrictions in the city.

Imamoglu said online “the will of the people cannot be silenced”. In a social media video he said he filmed while police were outside his home, he vowed to “stand resolute” for the people of Turkey “and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide”. And in a handwritten note posted on his X account after his arrest, he said the people of Turkey would respond to “the lies, the conspiracies and the traps” against him.

Protests have erupted on Turkey’s streets and university campuses, and in underground stations, with crowds chanting anti-government slogans. It is a display of public anger not seen in years. There were reports of clashes between protesters and police in Turkey’s largest city. Reuters news agency footage shows police using pepper spray pellets to disperse crowds outside Istanbul University.

The government has banned public gatherings in Istanbul as part of the four days of restrictions. But more protests are anticipated nationwide as opposition leaders, including Imamoglu’s wife, urge people to “raise their voices”.

Many streets in Istanbul have also been closed to traffic, while some metro lines have also cancelled their services.