At a briefing held at Turkey’s Foreign Ministry to discuss security for the visit of the Pope, who will be in Turkey between November 28 to December 1, it was announced that 3000 police officers will be on duty during the Pontiff’s 20 hour stay in Ankara.

There will be special forces team stationed at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport and an extensive operation to scan for explosives carried out on the morning of his arrival along all of the proposed routes the Pope may take into the city. Ankara police have prepared three separate routes for the Pope’s transfer from the airport.

The Pontiff will be staying at the Vatican Embassy during his stay in the capital until the morning of November 29. Speaking at a regular press briefing, police spokesman Ismail Caliskan said that certain roads in Istanbul will be closed to traffic during the Pope’s stay. He added that 750 extra riot police from other provinces will be sent to Istanbul for back-up.

Any protests should be made under democratic rules, without becoming extreme and keep within laws, he said, adding that oolice would detain those breaking the laws. Caliskan said that police force would take into account all leads into incidents against the Pope.