*ISTANBUL: *President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Sunday of a “heavy price”for protests against Turkey’s military operation against Syrian Kurdishmilitia, after the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) called onpeople to take to the streets.

“Some HDP representatives are calling on my Kurdish citizens to get outinto the squares. Until now, not many people have come out,” Erdogan saidin the northwestern province of Bursa.

“But let me say this here… Do not even think about it! There will be aheavy price to pay by those who respond to this call,” he added.

“This is a national fight. We will crush whoever opposes us in thisnational fight and go on.”

He earlier also hit out at the calls, telling the HDP that they were beingwatched.

“You will not be able to have a free hand. Hey HDP… hey PKK, wherever youcome out, know this: our security forces will be breathing down your neck,”Erdogan vowed.

His warnings came a day after Turkey launched an operation with Syrianrebels to oust the Syrian Kurdish Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG) militiafrom Afrin.

Turkey views the YPG militia as “terrorists” linked to the outlawedKurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighting against the Turkish state since1984.

Ankara also often accuses the HDP of being a political front for the PKK,claims which the party strongly denies.