Turkish police have bombarded hundreds of protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets in an attempt disperse crowds outside the Zaman newspaper offices in Istanbul.

The country’s top-selling newspaper reopened on Saturday (March 5) following a state takeover and police raid. But the staff has experienced a shake up, with reports of editor-in-chief Abdulhamit Bilici and columnist Bulent Kenes being sacked.

Sevgi Akarcesme, a top editor at Zaman’s sister publication, Today’s Zaman, labelled it “a dark day for Turkish democracy” and said most media in the country were not providing full coverage of the takeover through fear of experiencing the same fate.

A state-appointed trusteeship has now been ordered to take over both newspapers and the Cihan news agency — all of which have ties to a US-based cleric who the government accuses of plotting a coup.

Fresh Riots Between Police and Protesters in Istanbul #Zaman #todayszaman https://t.co/qo0ftWLE1E pic.twitter.com/DgvoeGAKhQ— teleSU