UP TO 1,000 protesters gathered yesterday in Dublin to commemorate the nine Turkish citizens shot dead by the Israeli army.

Dozens of groups were represented as a wreath in memory of those killed was laid at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin's city centre.

The march then moved from Parnell Square through the city towards the Department of Foreign Affairs on St Stephen's Green where a minute's silence was observed. Numbers swelled from just a few hundred as the march got underway just after 2pm.

The Turkish consul Turam Cetiner attended the laying of the wreath on behalf of his government.

He said: "I got the call to come and wanted to extend my condolences and observe a minute's silence for those who perished on their way to assist those in a desperate situation in Gaza."

He was joined by a number of well-known political figures including Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Labour's Michael D Higgins as well as union leaders.

Also in attendance at the rally were Labour TD Joe Costello, MEP Joe Higgins and the independent TD Maureen O'Sullivan.

David Landy of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign began the speeches by saying: "We all stand here in solidarity with those who died and their families."

Dr Fintan Lane spoke of his experiences as part of the flotilla and said: "It's important that we ensure those people did not die in vain."

Dozens of gardaí on foot, horse and motorcycle observed the march, paying particularly close attention as the rally passed the Dáil on Kildare Street.

However, the protest was entirely peaceful, with onlookers stopping to photograph the events and lend their support.

The rally was supported by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the NUJ who said that Israel had "imposed a blockade on the media".