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Wednesday, Jun 27, 2012 8:00 PM UTC

House Democrats want more open Pacific trade talks

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Topics: From the Wires,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two-thirds of House Democrats have written to the White House’s top trade official complaining they are being left out of the loop as the administration negotiates the most consequential trade deal in decades, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.

The 132 Democrats urged U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to make sure “there is ample opportunity for Congress to have input on critical policies that will have broad ramifications for years to come.”

The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Darrell Issa of California, has also asked Kirk to allow him to attend the next round of the 11-nation negotiations in San Diego next month, saying that would help ease some of his concerns about how the agreement is being negotiated.

Jim Abrams

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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