Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Turkish police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons at protesters who tried to march on the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Istanbul today.

Police, backed by helicopters, clashed with protesters in the city’s main Taksim square, about one mile (1 1/2 kilometers) from where the meeting was taking place, chasing them into gas- filled side streets. There were about 6,000 demonstrators in the area, and almost 100 were detained, Haberturk television said. One 60-year-old bystander died from a heart attack, it added.

“One policeman aimed at me and shot a tear gas canister, which hit the road in front of my car,” said Steve Pheby, manager of a relocation company in Istanbul, who was driving past the protests. “My car got into flames and another policeman dragged me out of the car saying it was on fire.”

Turkey is hosting the annual meetings, seeing them as a showcase for its economic development since a financial crisis in 2001. The IMF isn’t popular with many Turks, who say its demands for spending cuts lead to higher unemployment and slower growth. Turkey has signed a total of 19 accords with the IMF in an effort to strengthen its economy and curb inflation.

A Turkish student threw a shoe at IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn while he was lecturing at Istanbul’s Bilgi University last week.

Smashed Windows

Protesters today smashed windows of McDonald’s and a branch of Turkiye Is Bankasi AS, the biggest Turkish bank, on Istiklal Street, the city’s busiest pedestrian zone. Dozens of other banks and businesses were also damaged.

Shoppers and bystanders, gagging and retching from the effects of the tear gas, sought assistance from emergency crews, and some bystanders hurt in the clashes were taken to hospital by taxis.

Police wearing gas masks attacked about 100 members of the outlawed Turkish Workers’ and Peasants Liberation Army, or Tikko, who were carrying banners saying “Get out IMF, this is our country,” and throwing rocks at police and nearby windows. The police dragged away dozens of protesters.

The policemen, tipped off by helicopters hovering over the area, raided side streets and shot rubber bullets at people running away. Police fired water cannons filled with red water in order to identify the protesters later.

The IMF and World Bank meetings are taking place in Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest city, today and tomorrow.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ben Holland at bholland1@bloomberg.net; Firat Kayakiran at fkayakiran@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 6, 2009 09:01 EDT