Turkish lawmakers came to blows in a brawl in parliament overnight, as tempers boiled over in a debate on a constitutional reform package to expand the powers of President Tayyip Erdoğan.
Lawmakers from the ruling ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) threw punches and shoved one another as they crowded around the assembly's podium. Dozens of lawmakers crowded around the speaker's rostrum with one MP held in a chokehold and another kicked in the shins.
Another was seen being led away, apparently bleeding from the head, while the lectern from which MPs deliver speeches was also badly damaged in the fracas.
According to CHP MP, AKP lawmakers shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest). "Today, some AKP MPs were shouting 'Allahu Akbar' while attacking at us! At that moment, I saw the venom and hatred of ISIS in some eyes" Aykut Erdoğdu wrote on Twitter.
AKP Trabzon deputy Muhammet Balta was bitten on leg during the brawl.
During the row, CHP deputies objected to AKP members casting votes without entering the cabins set up to ease what was a secret ballot. AKP lawmakers then tried to grab the mobile telephone of a CHP deputy filming the scene.
Despite the clash, the third, fourth and fifth articles of the 18-article bill were approved in the parliamentary session, which continued until early on Thursday. Debate was scheduled to resume on Thursday afternoon.
