ISTANBUL — Demonstrations against a restrictive new Internet law grew violent Saturday night, as hundreds of protestors clashed with police near Istanbul’s main Taksim Square.

Anti-government demonstrators, who erected barricades near the square, battled police with rocks and fireworks. Police fought back with water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets.

Protestors set up barricades near the square, on a street between two hospitals. There were reports of numerous ambulances in the area, as well as many arrests. One press photographer was reported to be injured, and many money machines vandalized.

Opposition groups had called for a rally in Taksim Square to denounce the Internet law, but Police closed off the square. Thousands of demonstrators chanted for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to step down.

On Thursday night the Turkish parliament approved amendments to its Internet regulations that allow the government to block websites without a court order and mandate Internet service providers to store data for up to two years. The law must still be signed by President Abdullah Gul.

The European Union criticized Turkey for introducing tighter Internet controls, urging a revision to comply with standards in the bloc that Ankara hopes to join.

The Internet law would compound a dismal record on press freedom.

• MCT Campus