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Turkish Police Push Into Square Near Park Protest Turkish Police Push Into Square Near Park Protest
(35 minutes later)
ISTANBUL — A large force of riot police entered Taksim Square early on Tuesday, firing tear gas grenades and using water cannons to disperse demonstrators who have occupied the square for more than a week as part of a protest to save a nearby park that the government wants to develop.ISTANBUL — A large force of riot police entered Taksim Square early on Tuesday, firing tear gas grenades and using water cannons to disperse demonstrators who have occupied the square for more than a week as part of a protest to save a nearby park that the government wants to develop.
Television footage of the ongoing operation showed protesters hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at police vehicles as security officers responded with tear gas.Television footage of the ongoing operation showed protesters hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at police vehicles as security officers responded with tear gas.
It appeared that relatively few protesters were in the square as the police moved in and many retreated to the park. News reports said some protesters clashed with security forces, however, hurling rocks and firebombs. It appeared that relatively few protesters were in the square as the police moved in and many retreated to the park.
Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the governor of Istanbul, said in a Twitter message that the police would remove banners and posters. He said activists who have been occupying Gezi Park for more than two weeks would not be affected. Huseyin Avni Mutlu, the governor of Istanbul, said in a Twitter message that the police would remove banners and posters. He said the activists who have been occupying Gezi Park for more than two weeks would not be affected.
“Gezi Park and Taksim will never be touched. This morning you are in the safe hands of your police brothers,” he said. “Gezi Park and Taksim will never be touched,” he said. “This morning you are in the safe hands of your police brothers.”
“Young people, please, stop hurling stones,” a police officer announced over a loudspeaker. “We are not going to touch Gezi Park.” The police also tried to calm protesters. “Young people, please, stop hurling stones,” a police officer announced over a loudspeaker. “We are not going to touch Gezi Park.”
Live television showed at least eight protesters standing behind metal shields against the pressure of water cannons, and CNN Turk reported that some demonstrators in Gezi Park tried to persuade others outside to stop throwing rocks at the police. Other footage showed hundreds of activists camping inside the park wearing gas masks and swimming goggles and spraying soothing liquids into the eyes and mouths of people affected by the tear gas around Taksim Square. Despite that assurance, a group of police officers made its way into the park to pull down posters and banners. They were met with protesters chanting, “Everywhere Taksim, everywhere resistance,” but no confrontation ensued.
The operation came a day after the government appeared to change tactics and Turkey’s prime minister agreed to meet with leaders of the protest movement whose opposition to the razing of the park was a catalyst for violent antigovernment demonstrations nationwide that began more than a week ago and escalated into a political crisis. Television footage showed at least eight protesters standing behind metal shields against the pressure of water cannons, and CNN Turk reported that some demonstrators in Gezi Park had tried to persuade others outside to stop throwing rocks at the police. Other footage showed hundreds of activists inside the park wearing gas masks or swimming goggles and spraying soothing liquids into the eyes and mouths of people who had been affected by the tear gas around Taksim Square.
The meeting between the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the protest leaders is scheduled for Wednesday, said Bulent Arinc, a deputy prime minister and government spokesman. Official figures were not available, but news reports said dozens of people were injured in clashes that began around 7 a.m. At least three ambulances drove into the square to gather the injured, television images showed.
The operation came a day after the government appeared to change tactics, with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreeing to meet with protest leaders. Opposition to the razing of the park was a catalyst for the violent antigovernment demonstrations nationwide that began more than a week ago, escalating into the current political crisis.
The meeting between the prime minister and the protest leaders is scheduled for Wednesday, said Bulent Arinc, a deputy prime minister and government spokesman.
Mr. Arinc did not specify who among the protest leaders would attend. Still, it was the first public sign that Mr. Erdogan, a popular but stubborn leader who has broadly denounced the protests as the work of looters and thugs, was willing to directly engage at least some of the organizers in a dialogue.Mr. Arinc did not specify who among the protest leaders would attend. Still, it was the first public sign that Mr. Erdogan, a popular but stubborn leader who has broadly denounced the protests as the work of looters and thugs, was willing to directly engage at least some of the organizers in a dialogue.
“Our prime minister gave an appointment to some that led the events, and have been there from the very first day,” Mr. Arinc said in a televised statement. “I assume he will be meeting some of them on Wednesday.”“Our prime minister gave an appointment to some that led the events, and have been there from the very first day,” Mr. Arinc said in a televised statement. “I assume he will be meeting some of them on Wednesday.”
The Radikal newspaper said the list of people to meet Mr. Erdogan included Mucella Yapici, the spokeswoman of Taksim Solidarity, and representatives of Greenpeace and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly — two nongovernmental organizations that support environmental protection and human rights. The official invitation by the government would be sent on Tuesday morning, the newspaper said. The Radikal newspaper said the list of people to meet Mr. Erdogan included Mucella Yapici, the spokeswoman of Taksim Solidarity, and representatives of Greenpeace and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, two nongovernmental organizations.
Mr. Arinc spoke after a nearly seven-hour cabinet meeting during which members of Mr. Erdogan’s pro-Islamic Justice and Development Party discussed the protests, which began peacefully on May 31 and at their worst spread to more than 60 cities across the country in sometimes violent confrontations with the police. Some clashes continued Sunday into Monday, although Istanbul was peaceful. Mr. Arinc spoke Monday after a nearly seven-hour cabinet meeting during which members of Mr. Erdogan’s pro-Islamic Justice and Development Party discussed the protests, which began peacefully on May 31 but grew into sometimes violent confrontations in more than 60 cities across the country.
Three people were killed and more than 2,300 injured in the violence, which revealed some deep-seated resentment toward Mr. Erdogan. Although he has widespread support across much of Turkey, the protests presented him with one of the biggest political challenges since he became Turkey’s leader a decade ago. On Tuesday afternoon, protesters were standing behind a burning barricade in Tarlabasi Boulevard, one of the main streets leading to Taksim Square. Inside the square, police officers were standing guard around Cumhuriyet monument, an important national symbol celebrating the birth of the Turkish republic, which the police had earlier cleared of protesters’ posters and banners.
The police also cleared the facade of the Ataturk Cultural Center, an old opera house awaiting destruction by government decree, but they left hanging a poster of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, and a Turkish flag.
Protesters formed a human chain around Taksim Square for a while, when some representatives persuaded the police to retreat toward Istiklal Street, a pedestrian walkway that leads to the square. The police returned around noon, firing tear gas grenades when some demonstrators tried to restore their posters. At least six armored police vehicles could be seen around the main gathering area in the square.
The police used loudspeakers to urge activists inside Gezi Park to remain where they were and continue with their legitimate protests, rather than join the groups outside. Dozens of barricades made up of metal construction panels, wooden blocks and other materials, which had been built by activists and placed in entryways to Taksim, were pushed aside by cranes earlier in the day, clearing the way for police vehicles.
Three people have been killed and more than 2,300 injured in the violence, which has revealed some deep-seated resentment toward Mr. Erdogan. Although he has widespread support across much of Turkey, the protests presented him with one of the biggest political challenges since he became Turkey’s leader a decade ago.
The protests were originally intended as an environmental demonstration meant to save Gezi Park, in the heart of Taksim Square, which the government intends to develop. They escalated when riot police officers used tear gas and water cannons to disperse participants in what even some government officials conceded was an overly harsh response.The protests were originally intended as an environmental demonstration meant to save Gezi Park, in the heart of Taksim Square, which the government intends to develop. They escalated when riot police officers used tear gas and water cannons to disperse participants in what even some government officials conceded was an overly harsh response.
The protesters later widened their grievances into a broad rebuke of what they consider the authoritarian style of Mr. Erdogan and his political party, which is supported by religious conservatives in Turkey. The protesters have demanded the resignation of governors and security chiefs in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, the punishment of abusive police officers and the release of people detained in the protests. Some have called for Mr. Erdogan to resign.The protesters later widened their grievances into a broad rebuke of what they consider the authoritarian style of Mr. Erdogan and his political party, which is supported by religious conservatives in Turkey. The protesters have demanded the resignation of governors and security chiefs in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, the punishment of abusive police officers and the release of people detained in the protests. Some have called for Mr. Erdogan to resign.
Mr. Arinc rejected those demands and contended that international provocateurs, whom he did not further identify, played a role in the violence.Mr. Arinc rejected those demands and contended that international provocateurs, whom he did not further identify, played a role in the violence.
But he also sounded conciliatory about the motivations of the Gezi Park protesters. “In terms of actions that started on good intentions, if the subject matter is environmental concerns, if the subject matter is human rights, if the subject matter is democracy, we would very much like to talk and discuss all these with related parties,” Mr. Arinc said.But he also sounded conciliatory about the motivations of the Gezi Park protesters. “In terms of actions that started on good intentions, if the subject matter is environmental concerns, if the subject matter is human rights, if the subject matter is democracy, we would very much like to talk and discuss all these with related parties,” Mr. Arinc said.
The prime minister, who was abroad for much of last week as the protests spread, has said that the government would not abandon plans to develop Gezi Park into a replica of an Ottoman-era military barracks that was originally located there. The prime minister, who was abroad for much of last week as the protests spread, has said that the government would not abandon plans to develop Gezi Park into a replica of an Ottoman-era military barracks originally located there.
Mr. Arinc has said that the government would, for now, follow a local court ruling that the project be halted while public concerns are assessed. Mr. Arinc has said that the government will, for now, follow a local court ruling that the project be halted while public concerns are assessed.

Tim Arango contributed reporting.