Ankara - The trial of 60 people allegedly involved in the October torture death of activist Engin Ceber got under way in Istanbul on Wednesday, the Anadolu news agency reported.

A group of around 100 people gathered outside the court protesting the murder and calling for justice.

Ceber was arrested in September during a protest against the police shooting of another leftist activist.

He was allegedly first tortured at a police station in Istinye and then again at Metris Prison.

He was transferred to a hospital on October 3 and died of brain injuries on October 10.

The accused include prison guards, police officers and a prison doctor who wrote a health report on Ceber without having seen him.

News of the murder resulted in Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin apologizing to Ceber's family, but protesters on Wednesday outside the court carried signs saying, "We want justice, not apologies."

The government has come under severe criticism from the opposition and human rights groups that it is failing to implement its own policy of "zero tolerance" of torture. (dpa)