Tens of thousands of people on Sunday massed for a rally of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) of Turkey, in Istanbul.

A sea of people filled the vast square in Maltepe district on the Asian side of Istanbul for the rally marking the end of a 450km “justice march” from capital city Ankara to Istanbul by CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

Kılıçdaroğlu began the 25-day trek to protest the arrest of one of his MPs, and it rapidly grew into a major march protesting alleged injustices under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule.

“Nobody should think this march is the last one; it’s the first step,” the CHP leader told the crowds, who roared back, “Justice!”

“Everyone should know very well that July 9 is a new step, a new history ... a new birth,” he added.