Death toll from Kobani protests in Turkey rises to 31

The death toll has risen to 31 as a result of protest violence in Turkey amid anger over ISIL siege of Syria's Kobani town.

Three more people have died in random fire in protests in Turkey's southeastern Gaziantep province. The protests were in support for the Kurdistan Workers' Party-affiliated armed groups fighting against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants at Kobani near the Turkish border.

"Three people, including one woman, died in a random fire. 11 more including three policemen also got injured," Gaziantep governor Erdal Ata said, adding that the police have started an investigation into the violent incidents.

Earlier on Thursday evening, two policemen were shot dead by unidentified assailants in the eastern province of Bingol.

Turkish officials have said the country was against supporting Kurdish PYD (an offshoot of PKKin Syria) fighters in Kobani with military and financial aid, even if they are fighting against ISIL.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as by the U.S. and the European Union. 

The nationwide protests broke out after Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - ISIL - militants penetrated the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani, known as Ayn al-Arab, on Monday.

The protesters have used the pretext that the Turkish government has allegedly done nothing to halt the relentless advance of the militant group in the Syrian city, which has become a scene of fierce street battles between Kurdish groups and ISIL militants.  

Turkish Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker stated Thursday that 116 people had been arrested in the violence, and charges were brought against an additional 294 people who had violated the curfew.

The Istanbul governorate also announced that 66 people have been detained in Istanbul alone, adding that 52 people including three police officers had been wounded during the clashes.