This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22741644
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Turkish protesters pack Taksim Square as police withdraw | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Police in the Turkish city of Istanbul have pulled out of a square which has become the focus of the largest anti-government protest in years. | Police in the Turkish city of Istanbul have pulled out of a square which has become the focus of the largest anti-government protest in years. |
| Thousands of people are in Taksim Square after days of unrest sparked by plans to redevelop nearby Gezi Park. | Thousands of people are in Taksim Square after days of unrest sparked by plans to redevelop nearby Gezi Park. |
| Police have fired tear gas and water cannon several times in recent days to break up the demonstrations. | Police have fired tear gas and water cannon several times in recent days to break up the demonstrations. |
| PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said police may have used excessive force but that the park development will go ahead. | PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said police may have used excessive force but that the park development will go ahead. |
| Earlier on Saturday, he called for an end to the protests, saying Taksim Square "cannot be an area where extremists are running wild". | Earlier on Saturday, he called for an end to the protests, saying Taksim Square "cannot be an area where extremists are running wild". |
| In a defiant speech to the exporters' union, he insisted plans to reconstruct an Ottoman era military barracks on the Gezi Park site would go ahead and that a shopping mall "might be built on the ground floor or a city museum". | In a defiant speech to the exporters' union, he insisted plans to reconstruct an Ottoman era military barracks on the Gezi Park site would go ahead and that a shopping mall "might be built on the ground floor or a city museum". |
| Police 'mistakes' | Police 'mistakes' |
| The protesters say the park is one of the few green spaces left in Istanbul, and that the government is ignoring their appeals for it be saved. | The protesters say the park is one of the few green spaces left in Istanbul, and that the government is ignoring their appeals for it be saved. |
| Their protests initially began as a sit-in in the park, but erupted in clashes on Friday as police fired tear gas to try to clear them out. | Their protests initially began as a sit-in in the park, but erupted in clashes on Friday as police fired tear gas to try to clear them out. |
| Correspondents say that what was initially a local issue has spiralled into widespread anti-government unrest and anger over the perceived "Islamisation" of Turkey. | Correspondents say that what was initially a local issue has spiralled into widespread anti-government unrest and anger over the perceived "Islamisation" of Turkey. |
| One woman told Agence France-Presse: "They want to turn this country into an Islamist state, they want to impose their vision all the while pretending to respect democracy." | One woman told Agence France-Presse: "They want to turn this country into an Islamist state, they want to impose their vision all the while pretending to respect democracy." |
| Another, Oral Goktas, said the protest had brought together people from many different backgrounds. | |
| "This has become a protest against the government, against Erdogan taking decisions like a king," she told Reuters news agency. | |
| The perception that police had been heavy-handed by firing tear gas and water cannon - a view adopted by many of the country's mainstream media - also fuelled the unrest. Dozens of people have been injured in the clashes. | The perception that police had been heavy-handed by firing tear gas and water cannon - a view adopted by many of the country's mainstream media - also fuelled the unrest. Dozens of people have been injured in the clashes. |
| Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper quoted police as saying 138 people were in custody. | Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper quoted police as saying 138 people were in custody. |
| Mr Erdogan said there had been "some mistakes, extremism in police response", while the authorities have insisted that any allegations of abuse of power by the police will be investigated. | Mr Erdogan said there had been "some mistakes, extremism in police response", while the authorities have insisted that any allegations of abuse of power by the police will be investigated. |
| In an apparent bid to reduce tensions, police and riot vehicles were withdrawn from the square on Saturday afternoon, and barricades removed, allowing thousands of people to enter the square. | In an apparent bid to reduce tensions, police and riot vehicles were withdrawn from the square on Saturday afternoon, and barricades removed, allowing thousands of people to enter the square. |
| The scene in the central square appeared to be peaceful, with protesters chanting slogans, dancing and waving banners, some calling for the government to resign. | The scene in the central square appeared to be peaceful, with protesters chanting slogans, dancing and waving banners, some calling for the government to resign. |
| Mr Erdogan has been in power since 2002 and some in Turkey have complained that his government is becoming increasingly authoritarian. | Mr Erdogan has been in power since 2002 and some in Turkey have complained that his government is becoming increasingly authoritarian. |
| His ruling AK Party has its roots in political Islam, but he says he is committed to Turkey's state secularism. | His ruling AK Party has its roots in political Islam, but he says he is committed to Turkey's state secularism. |
| The US has expressed concern over Turkey's handling of the protests and Amnesty International condemned the police's tactics. | The US has expressed concern over Turkey's handling of the protests and Amnesty International condemned the police's tactics. |
| In his speech, Mr Erdogan criticised the "preaching" of foreign governments, saying they "should first look at their own countries". | In his speech, Mr Erdogan criticised the "preaching" of foreign governments, saying they "should first look at their own countries". |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |