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Turkey protests: Erdogan rejects EU criticism | Turkey protests: Erdogan rejects EU criticism |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Turkey must investigate the excessive use of force by police against anti-government protesters, a senior EU official has said in Istanbul. | Turkey must investigate the excessive use of force by police against anti-government protesters, a senior EU official has said in Istanbul. |
EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele was speaking ahead of talks on Turkey's ambition to join the EU. | EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele was speaking ahead of talks on Turkey's ambition to join the EU. |
In response, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said similar protests in Europe would be dealt with more harshly. | In response, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said similar protests in Europe would be dealt with more harshly. |
Turkey has seen a week of civil unrest sparked by a police crackdown on a local protest over an Istanbul park. | Turkey has seen a week of civil unrest sparked by a police crackdown on a local protest over an Istanbul park. |
Mr Fuele and Mr Erdogan were both speaking at a conference in Istanbul on Turkey's relations with the EU. | Mr Fuele and Mr Erdogan were both speaking at a conference in Istanbul on Turkey's relations with the EU. |
The EU enlargement commissioner said the EU had no intention of giving up on Turkey's accession, but Turkey had to maintain values of freedom and fundamental rights. | The EU enlargement commissioner said the EU had no intention of giving up on Turkey's accession, but Turkey had to maintain values of freedom and fundamental rights. |
He urged a "swift and transparent" investigation and those responsible should be held to account. | He urged a "swift and transparent" investigation and those responsible should be held to account. |
"Peaceful demonstrations constitute a legitimate way for groups to express their views in a democratic society," he said. | "Peaceful demonstrations constitute a legitimate way for groups to express their views in a democratic society," he said. |
"Excessive use of force by police against these demonstrations has no place in such a democracy". | "Excessive use of force by police against these demonstrations has no place in such a democracy". |
Defiant | Defiant |
In response, Mr Erdogan accused the EU of double standards, saying police in Europe and the US used the similar methods. | |
"Similar protests have taken place in Britain, France, Germany and bigger ones in Greece," he said. | |
His government was open to "democratic demands", he added, but would not accept "terrorism, violence and vandalism". | |
The Turkish leader also complained about the slow pace of the EU accession process, saying Turkey faced "unjust obstructions". | |
Human rights concerns have always been an important obstacle to Turkey's membership bid, along with the division of Cyprus and other issues. | |
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul says the pull of the EU has waned considerably in Turkey in recent years. | |
When accession talks began in 2005, over 70% of Turks were in favour of joining; now, some polls put support at just 30%. | |
Many Turks see a bloc unwilling to welcome a large Muslim-majority nation to the east, especially with the opposition of founding EU members such as France, our correspondent says. | |
The Turkish government has acknowledged that police used excessive force against the original protest over the planned redevelopment of Gezi Park in Istanbul. | The Turkish government has acknowledged that police used excessive force against the original protest over the planned redevelopment of Gezi Park in Istanbul. |
But they say the wider protest movement that ensued in cities across the country has been hijacked by extremists. | But they say the wider protest movement that ensued in cities across the country has been hijacked by extremists. |
On Thursday night Mr Erdogan was welcomed back to Turkey by thousands of cheering supporters who waited at the airport to greet him. | On Thursday night Mr Erdogan was welcomed back to Turkey by thousands of cheering supporters who waited at the airport to greet him. |
It was the first major show of support for Mr Erdogan following a week of protests in which his opponents have called for him to resign. | It was the first major show of support for Mr Erdogan following a week of protests in which his opponents have called for him to resign. |
Four people, including a police officer, are reported to have died since the protests began, with thousands more hurt and hundreds arrested. | Four people, including a police officer, are reported to have died since the protests began, with thousands more hurt and hundreds arrested. |
The government says more than 500 police officers are among the injured. | |
The protesters accuse Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state. | The protesters accuse Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state. |
His Justice and Development Party (AKP) has governed Turkey since 2002, winning successive election victories. | His Justice and Development Party (AKP) has governed Turkey since 2002, winning successive election victories. |
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. |
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