Opposition Claims 'Youth Shot Dead' A 22-year-old member of a political youth party has died after being shot during anti-government protests, opposition leaders claim. The man, who has been named by Turkish television NTV as Abdullah Comert was "seriously injured" during clashes in southern Turkey. Hasan Akgol, a key member of the opposition Republican People's Party, told the television station that the man was a member of the youth branch. Quoting a statement from the local governor's office in the Hatay province, the channel reported: "Abdullah Comert was seriously wounded ... after gunfire from an unidentified person." His death follows that of a 20-year-old named by the Turkish Doctor's Association as 20-year-old Mehmet Ayyalitas. Protests continued for a fourth night He died after a taxi slammed into a crowd in Istanbul. The government's office insisted the man's death was accidental. Eight people hurt in Ankara were also in critical condition. It comes as Turkey's public sector workers union today begin a two-day strike to protest against what they have condemned as "state terror" against the demonstrations. In a statement on its website said: "The state terror implemented against entirely peaceful protests is continuing in a way that threatens civilians' life safety." Turkish riot police fired more tear gas at protesters on a fourth night of violent clashes in Ankara and Istanbul. Protesters use clingfilm to guard against teargas Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected protesters' demands that he resign and claims the unrest is the work of Turkey's opposition. He branded the demonstrators "extremists" in a move likely to further inflame the situation in the country. Violent protests have rocked Turkey since Friday, when police launched a pre-dawn raid against a peaceful sit-in protesting against plans to develop Istanbul's Taksim Square. Since then, the unrest by mostly secular-minded Turks has spiralled into Turkey's biggest anti-government disturbances in years. In Istanbul, clouds of tear gas in the Besiktas area forced protesters to run for cover. Riot police deployed water cannons to keep protesters back. A medical team treat a protester injured in the clashes In Ankara, demonstrators chanted for Mr Erdogan to resign. Turkey's stock exchange dropped 10.5% on Monday over concerns about the destabilising effect of the protests. The protests are seen as a display of frustration with Mr Erdogan, whom critics say has become increasingly authoritarian. But he has rejected the criticism. He said: "The protests weren't about the squares or the trees, some parties were not happy about results of the elections. The situation is a lot calmer now and reason seems to be prevailing. I think things will return to normal. These demonstrations are not all over Turkey, just in some big cities. The Obama administration has voiced concern over the crackdown on protesters, urging authorities to exercise restraint. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has traveled to Turkey three times since becoming America's top diplomat, said the US was following the situation closely and was troubled by reports of excessive force by the police. He also said Washington is "deeply concerned" by the large number of people who have been injured. Groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have denounced the police reaction as excessive. It also advises against all but essential travel to areas close to the Syrian border and warns of a "high threat" from terrorism. Some 1,700 people were arrested nationwide but most have now been released, according to Interior Minister Muammer Guler, who estimated the cost of the protests to be more than 20m liras (£6.55m).