Top EU officials rapped Turkey's government about its failure to fully implement several recent reforms crafted to ease the country's entry into the European bloc. The criticism came a day after police in Istanbul brutally attacked women demonstrators commemorating World Women's Day.

The EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, British Europe Minister Denis MacShane, and Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said in a joint statement they were shocked by images of the police beating women and young people demonstrating in Istanbul." The EU officials were in Ankara for day-long talks to discuss Turkey's membership.

Television images showed truncheon-wielding oliceman repeatedly beating and kicking female demonstrators gathered to protest gender inequality and violence against women. Turkish authorities say they broke up the demonstration because it was illegal.

Three women were hospitalized and 63 others detained after the rally. Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul pledged an Television images showed truncheon-wielding oliceman repeatedly beating and kicking female demonstrators gathered to protest gender inequality and violence against women. Turkish authorities say they broke up the demonstration because it was illegal.

Three women were hospitalized and 63 others detained after the investigation.

There is growing concern within the European Union that Turkey is backtracking on reforms after EU leaders agreed in December to open accession talks with Ankara. The negotiations are expected to last at least 10 years and will start in October, provided that Turkey signs a customs protocol with Cyprus and holds rights abuses in check.

Human rights activists charge that despite a "zero tolerance" policy, torture under detention remains widespread. Police provoked a public outcry in November when they shot dead a 12-year-old Kurdish boy and his father outside their home in the southeastern town of Kiziltepe, claiming the pair were "terrorists."