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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".
In response, Mr Erdogan accused the EU of double standards, saying police in Europe and the US used similar methods.
DefiantDefiant
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.
Last night Mr Erdogan called for an immediate end to the demonstrations, saying they bordered on illegality.
In a defiant speech to supporters on his return from a four-day tour off North Africa, he accused the protesters of looting and said they had lost democratic credentials.
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul says Turkey's hopes of EU membership will not be helped by the worst civil unrest for decades.
Turkey formally applied to join in 1987 and started accession talks in 2005.
Human rights concerns have always been an important obstacle to Turkey's membership bid, along with the division of Cyprus and other issues.
But both France and Germany have recently softened their stance on Turkish accession.
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.
He responded to calls for his resignation by referring to his election victory in 2011 when he took 50% of the vote.
"They say I am the prime minister of only 50%. It's not true. We have served the whole of the 76 million from the east to the west," he told the crowd.
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.
Interior Minister Muammer Guler has said that more than 500 police officers are among the injured. 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.
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