People in Turkey's eastern province of Malatya have staged a rally to protest the country's decision to host a NATO missile system in the province, Press TV reports. 

People from different cities of the province gathered in Soykan Park in the city of Malatya -- capital of the province - on Saturday to protest the establishment of the NATO system. 

The protesters then rallied to the Kurecik region in the province where the system will be set up. Strict security measures were taken in the area ahead of the protest. 

The protesters called for an "independent Turkey" and urged Ankara to revise its decision to allow NATO to establish the system in the country. 

The demonstrators, who chanted slogans against the deployment of the radar, also condemned the Turkish government's decision, announced in September 2011. 

Turkish citizens have held many demonstrations in Kurecik to protest against the agreement between the NATO and Turkish government over the planned installation of the missile system. 

In October, thousands of people took to the streets of Kurecik to condemn the plan. 

Ankara announced in September that it had agreed to allow the deployment of the X-Band radar system, developed by the United States for NATO, on its territory.