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| Turkey clashes: Erdogan says protests 'are not Turkish Spring' | Turkey clashes: Erdogan says protests 'are not Turkish Spring' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan says four days of anti-government protests do not constitute a Turkish Spring. | PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan says four days of anti-government protests do not constitute a Turkish Spring. |
| At a news conference before a trip to Morocco, he said the protests were organised by extremists and accused the opposition of provoking "his citizens". | At a news conference before a trip to Morocco, he said the protests were organised by extremists and accused the opposition of provoking "his citizens". |
| The protests initially targeted plans to build on a treasured Istanbul park. | The protests initially targeted plans to build on a treasured Istanbul park. |
| They have spread into nationwide anti-government unrest. Protesters clashed with police again on Monday after more overnight violence in Istanbul. | They have spread into nationwide anti-government unrest. Protesters clashed with police again on Monday after more overnight violence in Istanbul. |
| Police used tear gas to stop a group of demonstrators marching on the prime minister's office in Istanbul, the private Dogan news agency reports. | Police used tear gas to stop a group of demonstrators marching on the prime minister's office in Istanbul, the private Dogan news agency reports. |
| Officers also reportedly fired teargas and water cannon at hundreds of demonstrators in the capital Ankara on Monday. | |
| Mr Erdogan said during a televised news conference: "There are those attending these events organised by extremists. This is not about Gezi Park anymore. These are organised events with affiliations both within Turkey and abroad. | Mr Erdogan said during a televised news conference: "There are those attending these events organised by extremists. This is not about Gezi Park anymore. These are organised events with affiliations both within Turkey and abroad. |
| "The main opposition party CHP has provoked my innocent citizens. Those who make news [and] call these events the Turkish Spring do not know Turkey." | "The main opposition party CHP has provoked my innocent citizens. Those who make news [and] call these events the Turkish Spring do not know Turkey." |
| Protesters say the Turkish government is becoming increasingly authoritarian. | Protesters say the Turkish government is becoming increasingly authoritarian. |
| They fear Mr Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) is trying to impose conservative Islamic values on the officially secular country and infringe on their personal freedoms, correspondents say. | They fear Mr Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) is trying to impose conservative Islamic values on the officially secular country and infringe on their personal freedoms, correspondents say. |
| Officials say more than 1,700 people have been arrested in demonstrations in 67 towns and cities, though many have since been released. | Officials say more than 1,700 people have been arrested in demonstrations in 67 towns and cities, though many have since been released. |
| Late on Sunday, the White House said in a statement that all parties should "calm the situation", and reaffirmed that peaceful demonstrations were "part of democratic expression". | Late on Sunday, the White House said in a statement that all parties should "calm the situation", and reaffirmed that peaceful demonstrations were "part of democratic expression". |
| The US previously criticised the security forces for their initial response to the protest. | The US previously criticised the security forces for their initial response to the protest. |
| Makeshift hospitals | Makeshift hospitals |
| Overnight, protesters in the Besiktas district of Istanbul tore up paving stones to build barricades, and police responded with tear gas and water cannon. | Overnight, protesters in the Besiktas district of Istanbul tore up paving stones to build barricades, and police responded with tear gas and water cannon. |
| Mosques, shops and a university in Besiktas were turned into makeshift hospitals for those injured in Sunday night's demonstration. | Mosques, shops and a university in Besiktas were turned into makeshift hospitals for those injured in Sunday night's demonstration. |
| Several thousand people took part in the protest outside the recently decommissioned Besiktas football stadium. | Several thousand people took part in the protest outside the recently decommissioned Besiktas football stadium. |
| Unrest was also reported in the western coastal city of Izmir, Adana in the south and Gaziantep in the south-east. | |
| Last week, the government passed legislation curbing the sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks. | Last week, the government passed legislation curbing the sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks. |
| Mr Erdogan says the protesters are undemocratic and have been provoked by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). | Mr Erdogan says the protesters are undemocratic and have been provoked by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). |
| The protests began on a small scale last week over redevelopment plans for the park to make way for the rebuilding of an Ottoman-era barracks, reportedly to house a shopping centre. | The protests began on a small scale last week over redevelopment plans for the park to make way for the rebuilding of an Ottoman-era barracks, reportedly to house a shopping centre. |
| The demonstrators say the park is one of the few green spaces in Istanbul, and object to the loss of public space for commercial purposes. | The demonstrators say the park is one of the few green spaces in Istanbul, and object to the loss of public space for commercial purposes. |