ISTANBUL — The mayors of three major cities in southern Turkey were arrested Saturday, state-run media reported, joining a growing list of opposition figures detained since the mayor of Istanbul was imprisoned in March.

As Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s crackdown on critics, dissenters, and political opponents is causing massive outrage, there are demands for snap elections in the country as more and more people are rejecting his authoritarian rule that is now in its 23rd year.

A crackdown on Erdogan's rival Republican People's Party continues, as three mayors from southern Turkey are held.Turkey detained three more mayors from the main opposition party on Saturday, according to a prosecutor's statement and media reports.