Turkish police fired tear gas to disperse a pro-Palestinian rally staged outside a military base housing US forces just hours before the arrival in Ankara of Washington's top diplomat.

The protest outside the Incirlik Air Base in southeastern Turkey was organized by the IHH humanitarian relief fund, which in 2010 led a flotilla to Gaza that sparked Israeli raids in which 10 civilians died.

An AFP photographer said the police intervened when the crowd began to walk toward the base after holding a peaceful rally in Incirlik.

Images on social media showed several hundred people waving Palestinian flags running across a field chased by the police, who also used water cannon.

There were no reports of injuries or arrests. US officials issued no comment.    

WITH AFP