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Turkey protests: Riot police enter Taksim Square Turkey protests: Riot police storm Taksim Square
(35 minutes later)
Turkish riot police have entered Istanbul's Taksim Square, where anti-government protesters have been staging demonstrations for close to two weeks. Turkish riot police have moved into Istanbul's Taksim Square, which has been occupied by anti-government protesters for close to two weeks.
Hundreds of officers have been using tear gas and water cannon to disperse activists. Officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets, leading many protesters to flee the square into adjoining Gezi Park, where many have been camping.
The move comes after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to meet the protest organisers on Wednesday. Some activists responded by hurling fireworks, fire bombs and stones at police.
The unrest was sparked by a police crackdown on a local protest over an Istanbul park. The unrest began after a police crackdown on a protest over Gezi Park.
The protests then widened, with demonstrators accusing Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.The protests then widened, with demonstrators accusing Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.
Backed by armoured vehicles, police wearing helmets and carrying shields gathered around the square early on Tuesday. The move into the square by police comes after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to meet the protest organisers on Wednesday.
They then began to move past barricades erected by protesters. Backed by armoured vehicles, officers wearing helmets and carrying shields gathered around the square early on Tuesday before moving past barricades erected by protesters.
The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is in the square, says it is a deliberate show of force. They removed protesters' banners which had been hung from a building overlooking the square.
Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu said the police had no intention of breaking up the protest in Gezi Park.
"Our aim is to remove the signs and pictures on Ataturk statue and the Ataturk Cultural Centre. We have no other aim," he wrote on Twitter. "Gezi Park and Taksim will not be touched."
The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is in the square, says this was a deliberate show of force that may jeopardise Wednesday's talks.
The demonstrations are now in their 12th day, with activists controlling much of Taksim Square.The demonstrations are now in their 12th day, with activists controlling much of Taksim Square.
The unrest was sparked after police moved to suppress environmental protests over the redevelopment of Gezi Park, which is part of Taksim Square, on 31 May. The unrest was sparked after police moved to suppress environmental protests over the redevelopment of Gezi Park on 31 May.
More than 5,000 people have been injured and three people have died since the protests began. Three people have died and more than 5,000 have been injured since the protests began.