The Turkish community in Malta this afternoon joined their compatriots in Istanbul with a protest in Valletta.

The protest included the participation of Maltese nationals who support their cause.

The protesters carried Turkish flags and banners expressing shame on the Turkish media, which they said, was ignoring what was going on.

Protests in Turkey have been going on for the past week and began as a campaign against the redevelopment of Gezi Park in a corner of Taksim Square.

They spiralled into an unprecedented display of public anger over the perceived authoritarianism of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted AK Party.

Police firing tear gas and water cannon have clashed with groups of protesters night after night in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities across the country, leaving three dead and some 4,000 injured.

Mr Erdogan's has called for an immediate end to the worst political unrest of his decade in power, saying the protests were founded on a "campaign of lies".

He branded the demonstrators as looters and said the protests are being manipulated by "terrorist" groups.

The Chapulling Community were this morning welcomed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at Castille. Dr Muscat appealed for a peaceful resolution in Turkey in full respect of democracy.