zeina khodr is live for us. telling us whether they have been deployed and what is the seen in thaksin, because we know there's a ban on protests. >> well, yes, as you see behind me, the state is making its presence clear. it's visible. up 230,000 police officers deployed in istanbul - we are in thaksin square, and the city is underlock down. the city center is under lockdown. public transport has been suspended in some areas. you can see the barricades put up by the police. the government is determined to prevent protesters from reaching thaksin square. they presented the unions with an alternative rally site, saying if you want to rally, you can go to the site, and they are providing free public transport. the unions, backed by opposition parties feel it is their right to reach the square because it has so much symbolic value to them. earlier today we saw representatives of unions arriving at the square. the government allowed them to lay a wreath in memory of those killed in 1977. processes will not be allowe

zeina khodr live in thaksin square in istanbul. clearly it's looking empty so the protesters unable to get to the square. are they trying. >> they have been dozens gathered. the police prevented them. they used water canon. tear gas. the police are out in force. the government is not banning rallies just panning the rally in tham sin. yunans say that this is not what they want, it is not up to the government to decide wherever and whenever they decided to demonstrate and make their demands clear. strong police presence, city center has been sealed off. and public transport has been suspended as well. >> unions say this is the constitution right. today is supposed to be a day to mark a may day labourers, rallying, so it's been overshadoed by the divisions in turkish society. >> we know that may day protests happen every year, around the world. why is this protest in thaksin square so significant? >> this is not just a fight about rallying in that's correct sim square. if i talk to people about opposition, they are supporting them. t

zeina khodr september us this report from neighbouring turkey. >> reporter: the old quarters of homs and vouching neighbour -- surrounding neighbourhoods are the last rebel strongholds. 100,000 fighters are inside. for months they've been out of siege. now they may be gip safe passage -- given safe passage out. they'll retreat to the northern countryside of the city. those areas are under seeing. the deal would allow the state to regain control of a city, known as the capital of the revolution much. >> translation: now it is impossible to take back the city. we were so hungry we couldn't walk 100 metre. i used to weigh 73 kilos, now i weigh 53 kilos. >> this 24-year-old arrived in istanbul. the bombardment and the siege on rebel-held areas forced them to surrender one after the other. >> in early 2012 the regime began a campaign to retake the city. activists appealed for help as international observers visited the rebel areas at the time. the world did not act: it was a symbol of defeat when the rebels lost - he defeated. >> at first i thought we'd return. the situation was worse. we

zeina khodr reports. >> reporter: the old quarters of homs and surrounding neighbourhoods are the last rebel strongholds in the city. some 1,000 fighter are inside. for months they have been under siege. now they may begin safe passage out as part of a deal with the government. the rebels will retreat to the northern country side of the city. those areas are under siege. the deal allows the state to regain control of the city. >> now it is impossible to take back the city. we were so hungry. we couldn't walk 100 metres. i used to weigh 73 kilos, now i weigh 53 kilos. >> this 24-year-old arrived in istanbul a few days ago and said the bombardment and government siege forced neighbourhoods to surrender one after another. >> in early 2012. regime began a campaign to retake lost territory in the city. the neighbourhood came under a government intense assaults during this war. activists like khaled abo salah called for help when international observers visited the area. the world didn't act. he was a sign of defines. when the rebels lost it, he left. >> translation: at first i thought we wo