Turkish riot police disperse pro-Kurdish demonstrators in Van, eastern Turkey, 22 Mar 2008

A second demonstrator has been shot dead during clashes between Turkish police and Kurdish protesters in southeastern Turkey.

Celebrations marking the Kurdish New Year, Nowroz, have turned into protests supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, during the past three days.

Demonstrations and clashes with Turkish police have been reported in Van, Yusekova and other cities.

Turkish police say at least 60 people, including protesters and officers, were injured in clashes on Saturday.   Police say they detained at least 160 people.

Kurdish activists often use the Nowroz festival - a traditional new year celebration that marks the arrival of spring - to highlight demands for autonomy and other rights. 

The PKK has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast for nearly 25 years, and violence during that time has killed more than 30,000 people. 

Turkey, the United States and other nations have designated the PKK a terrorist group.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP .