Thousands of people holding national flags gather at the mausoleum of Ataturk to celebrate the country's Republic Day in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 29, 2012.

Riot police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse a crowd as thousands of people march to the mausoleum of Ataturk to celebrate the country's Republic Day in Ankara, Oct. 29.

Demonstrators wave flags as they march to the Anitkabir, mausoleum of the founder of secular Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in central Ankara, Oct. 29.

Police officers in riot gear stand watch as thousands of people prepare to march from the First National Assembly, seen in background, to the mausoleum of Ataturk to celebrate the Republic Day in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 29.

Sebahat Tuncel, a Kurdish member of parliament, runs for cover as riot police disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara March 29. Members of teachers' union and opposition supporters gathered in the Turkish capital of Ankara to protest against a government attempt to railroad the new education bill through parliament which secular parties say is designed to promote Islamic schooling. The government wants to overturn a 1997 law imposed with the backing of the military which extended compulsory education from five to eight years, but also stopped under-15s attending religious "imam hatip" schools.

Police use tear gas to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey, on March 29. Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the demonstration, which had been called by the KESK public service union with the aim of marching on parliament.

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey, on March 29.

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey, on March 29.

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a government attempt to railroad a new education bill through parliament in Ankara, Turkey on March 29.

Demonstrators gather around a bonfire to celebrate Newroz in Ankara, March 21. The Newroz has traditionally been used as an opportunity to highlight separatist demands by Kurdish rebels and police had to intensify security against possible violence as tensions run high ahead of nationwide general elections. Newroz, 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 Kurd jumps over a bonfire as people gather to celebrate the Newroz in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, March 20.