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Turkey protests: Riot police storm Taksim Square | Turkey protests: Riot police storm Taksim Square |
(35 minutes later) | |
Turkish riot police have moved into Istanbul's Taksim Square, which has been occupied by anti-government protesters 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. |
Officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets, leading many protesters to flee the square into adjoining Gezi Park. Some activists hurled fireworks, fire bombs and stones at police. | Officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets, leading many protesters to flee the square into adjoining Gezi Park. Some activists hurled fireworks, fire bombs and stones at police. |
The unrest began after a crackdown on a protest over Gezi Park's redevelopment. | The unrest began after a crackdown on a protest over Gezi Park's redevelopment. |
The Turkish prime minister said the move was hijacked to cause vandalism. | The Turkish prime minister said the move was hijacked to cause vandalism. |
The original protests have widened, with demonstrators accusing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state. | The original protests have widened, with demonstrators accusing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state. |
Mr Erdogan defended the police intervention on Tuesday. | Mr Erdogan defended the police intervention on Tuesday. |
In a speech in parliament that was frequently interrupted by applause, he asked: "What did the protesters expect? That we would kneel down before them?" | In a speech in parliament that was frequently interrupted by applause, he asked: "What did the protesters expect? That we would kneel down before them?" |
And he appeared to contradict Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, who had earlier said the police had no intention of breaking up the protest in Gezi Park. | |
"I invite them to withdraw from the park and I ask this as prime minister. | |
"I am sorry but Gezi Park is for taking promenades, not for occupation," Mr Erdogan said. | |
Backed by armoured vehicles and water cannon, officers wearing helmets and carrying shields gathered around the square early on Tuesday before moving past barricades erected by protesters. | Backed by armoured vehicles and water cannon, officers wearing helmets and carrying shields gathered around the square early on Tuesday before moving past barricades erected by protesters. |
They removed protesters' banners which had been hung from a building overlooking the square, replacing them with the national flag and a portrait of the father of the Turkish state, Kemal Ataturk. | They removed protesters' banners which had been hung from a building overlooking the square, replacing them with the national flag and a portrait of the father of the Turkish state, Kemal Ataturk. |
The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is in the square, says this was a deliberate show of force that may jeopardise plans by Mr Erdogan to meet the protest organisers on Wednesday. | The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is in the square, says this was a deliberate show of force that may jeopardise plans by Mr Erdogan to meet the protest organisers on Wednesday. |
Three people have died and more than 5,000 have been injured since the protests began. | Three people have died and more than 5,000 have been injured since the protests began. |
Smaller protests have occurred in the capital Ankara too. Police there have used water cannon and tear gas to break up demonstrations almost every night. | Smaller protests have occurred in the capital Ankara too. Police there have used water cannon and tear gas to break up demonstrations almost every night. |