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-22801548

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Istanbul Gezi Park plan to proceed - Turkish PM Erdogan Istanbul Gezi Park plan to proceed - Turkish PM Erdogan
(35 minutes later)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said plans to redevelop a park in Istanbul will go ahead despite mass protests rocking the country.Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said plans to redevelop a park in Istanbul will go ahead despite mass protests rocking the country.
Describing some of the protesters as "extremists", he said seven foreigners had been arrested over the unrest.Describing some of the protesters as "extremists", he said seven foreigners had been arrested over the unrest.
Mr Erdogan made the remarks in Tunis. He is to return to Turkey from a North African tour later on Thursday.Mr Erdogan made the remarks in Tunis. He is to return to Turkey from a North African tour later on Thursday.
A large protest group has called for further demonstrations in response to the comments, correspondents say.A large protest group has called for further demonstrations in response to the comments, correspondents say.
The demonstrators had hoped for a sign of compromise from the prime minister, the BBC's Mark Lowen, in Istanbul, reports.The demonstrators had hoped for a sign of compromise from the prime minister, the BBC's Mark Lowen, in Istanbul, reports.
But Mr Erdogan's comments are likely to fan the flames, as Turkey's worst unrest in decades looks set to build yet further, our correspondent says.But Mr Erdogan's comments are likely to fan the flames, as Turkey's worst unrest in decades looks set to build yet further, our correspondent says.
The original sit-in at Gezi Park spiralled into nationwide unrest after police cracked down on activists defending the green space near Istanbul's Taksim square from developers. The economic response was swift, with the stock market dropping nearly 5% after the prime minister's announcement.
Demonstrators in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities have been calling for the three-term prime minister to quit. The original sit-in at Gezi Park spiralled into nationwide unrest after police cracked down on activists defending the green space near Istanbul's Taksim Square from developers.
For days, demonstrators in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities have been calling for the three-term prime minister to quit.
They accuse Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.They accuse Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.
Four people are reported to have died, thousands have been injured and hundreds arrested in the unrest.Four people are reported to have died, thousands have been injured and hundreds arrested in the unrest.
'Implicated in terrorism''Implicated in terrorism'
Mr Erdogan has dismissed the protests as undemocratic. Speaking in Tunis, Mr Erdogan acknowledged that police had used "excessive force" against activists at the original sit-in.
Speaking in Tunis, he said a small group of extremists was manipulating what had started as an environmental protest. But he said that a small group of extremists was now manipulating what had started as an environmental protest.
"Among the protesters, there are extremists, some of them implicated in terrorism," he told reporters."Among the protesters, there are extremists, some of them implicated in terrorism," he told reporters.
Mr Erdogan also defended the urban development plan for Gezi Park, which is near Istanbul's Taksim Square. Mr Erdogan also defended the urban development plan for Gezi Park, which is near Istanbul's central Taksim Square.
"The project respects [Turkey's] history, culture and environment," he said. "The project respects [Turkey's] history, culture and environment," he said. "They have been caught in the streets and on social media."
"What we are doing is to protect the rights of the majority and to preserve the beauty of Istanbul.""What we are doing is to protect the rights of the majority and to preserve the beauty of Istanbul."
Before leaving for his official tour of North Africa on Monday, the PM had predicted the protests would be over by the time he came home. Tunisian riot police surrounded the Turkish embassy in Tunis during Mr Erdogan's visit, after local left-wing groups called for protests to show solidarity with the demonstrators in Turkey, the AP news agency reports.
Before leaving for his official tour of North Africa on Monday, Mr Erdogan had predicted the protests would be over by the time he came home.
But on the eve of his return, police in the capital Ankara used tear gas and water cannon on protesters who had erected barricades and set them on fire. Rioting was also reported in the city of Tunceli.But on the eve of his return, police in the capital Ankara used tear gas and water cannon on protesters who had erected barricades and set them on fire. Rioting was also reported in the city of Tunceli.
In Istanbul, thousands of striking workers joined the demonstrations on Wednesday. They held banners addressed to Mr Erdogan reading: "This nation will not bow to you!" and "Taksim Square is everywhere!"In Istanbul, thousands of striking workers joined the demonstrations on Wednesday. They held banners addressed to Mr Erdogan reading: "This nation will not bow to you!" and "Taksim Square is everywhere!"
No violence was reported during the protests, which continued into the night.No violence was reported during the protests, which continued into the night.
Meanwhile, in the coastal city of Izmir, protesters demanded the release of about 30 people arrested for posting "misinformation" on Twitter. Meanwhile, in the coastal city of Izmir, police have released about 30 people detained earlier for posting "misinformation" on Twitter, the state-run Anatolia news agency reports.
Mr Erdogan has called the micro-blogging site a "menace" used to spread "lies".Mr Erdogan has called the micro-blogging site a "menace" used to spread "lies".
Sit-inSit-in
Earlier this week, Deputy PM Bulent Arinc apologised for police violence in the original protest, which took place a week ago.Earlier this week, Deputy PM Bulent Arinc apologised for police violence in the original protest, which took place a week ago.
Protest representatives who met Mr Arinc on Wednesday presented a list of demands, which included the dismissal of police chiefs, a ban on the use of tear gas, the release of detained protesters, the sacking of Istanbul's governor, and the scrapping of the plans for the redevelopment of Gezi Park.Protest representatives who met Mr Arinc on Wednesday presented a list of demands, which included the dismissal of police chiefs, a ban on the use of tear gas, the release of detained protesters, the sacking of Istanbul's governor, and the scrapping of the plans for the redevelopment of Gezi Park.
The unrest began as a sit-in in Gezi Park to block the redevelopment plans. But they escalated after police used tear gas to try to clear the protesters out.The unrest began as a sit-in in Gezi Park to block the redevelopment plans. But they escalated after police used tear gas to try to clear the protesters out.
Opponents of the plan say the park is of the few green areas left in central Istanbul - many had been camping out there for several days in protest.Opponents of the plan say the park is of the few green areas left in central Istanbul - many had been camping out there for several days in protest.
But Mr Erdogan has repeatedly said the project would go ahead, and that the historic Ottoman-era military barracks would be rebuilt on the site as planned.But Mr Erdogan has repeatedly said the project would go ahead, and that the historic Ottoman-era military barracks would be rebuilt on the site as planned.
His ruling AK Party has governed Turkey since 2002, winning a series of election victories. His ruling Justice and Development Party has governed Turkey since 2002, winning a series of election victories.
Turkish PM stands firm over park