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Turkey protests: PM Erdogan issues stern warning | Turkey protests: PM Erdogan issues stern warning |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that he will not show "any more tolerance" for protests. | Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that he will not show "any more tolerance" for protests. |
He vowed to end the demonstrations after police cleared Istanbul's Taksim Square, the focal point of unrest for nearly two weeks. | He vowed to end the demonstrations after police cleared Istanbul's Taksim Square, the focal point of unrest for nearly two weeks. |
Police used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets, causing many to flee the square into adjoining Gezi Park. | Police used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets, causing many to flee the square into adjoining Gezi Park. |
The unrest began after a crackdown on an environmental protest over Gezi Park's redevelopment. | The unrest began after a crackdown on an environmental protest over Gezi Park's redevelopment. |
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. |
'My love' | 'My love' |
The prime minister defended the police intervention on Tuesday, saying that an environmental movement had been hijacked by people who wanted to harm Turkey. | The prime minister defended the police intervention on Tuesday, saying that an environmental movement had been hijacked by people who wanted to harm Turkey. |
In a televised speech to members of parliament from his Justice and Development Party (AKP) that was frequently interrupted by applause, he asked: "They say the prime minister is rough. So what was going to happen? Were we going to kneel down in front of these [people]? | In a televised speech to members of parliament from his Justice and Development Party (AKP) that was frequently interrupted by applause, he asked: "They say the prime minister is rough. So what was going to happen? Were we going to kneel down in front of these [people]? |
"If you call this roughness, I'm sorry, but this Tayyip Erdogan won't change." | "If you call this roughness, I'm sorry, but this Tayyip Erdogan won't change." |
He also 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. | He also 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. |
"To those who... are at Taksim and elsewhere taking part in the demonstrations with sincere feelings: I call on you to leave those places and to end these incidents and I send you my love. | "To those who... are at Taksim and elsewhere taking part in the demonstrations with sincere feelings: I call on you to leave those places and to end these incidents and I send you my love. |
"But for those who want to continue with the incidents I say: 'It's over.' As of now we have no tolerance for them. | "But for those who want to continue with the incidents I say: 'It's over.' As of now we have no tolerance for them. |
"Not only will we end the actions, we will be at the necks of the provocateurs and terrorists and no-one will get away with it," he continued. | "Not only will we end the actions, we will be at the necks of the provocateurs and terrorists and no-one will get away with it," he continued. |
"I am sorry but Gezi Park is for taking promenades, not for occupation." | "I am sorry but Gezi Park is for taking promenades, not for occupation." |
Skirmishes between police and protesters in Taksim Square continued on Wednesday afternoon, reaching the edge of the park. | |
Some activists hurled fireworks, fire bombs and stones at police. | |
"Not long ago we heard loud explosions and before that there was a rain of gas bombs falling on to civilians," one protester, Cem Ozen, told the BBC. | "Not long ago we heard loud explosions and before that there was a rain of gas bombs falling on to civilians," one protester, Cem Ozen, told the BBC. |
"We've seen many civilians being carried to makeshift medical points. Some people were wounded in the head." | "We've seen many civilians being carried to makeshift medical points. Some people were wounded in the head." |
Police had earlier removed protesters' banners which had been hung from a building overlooking Taksim Square, replacing them with the national flag and a portrait of the father of the Turkish state, Kemal Ataturk. | |
The BBC's Mark Lowen, 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, 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. |
"Can you believe that? They attack Taksim, gas us in the morning just after proposing talks with us? What kind of leader is that?" said one 23-year-old protester in Gezi Park. | |
The Turkish Human Rights Foundation says four people have been killed - including one policeman - since the protests began on 31 May. Some 5,000 protesters have been treated for injuries or the effects of tear gas, while officials say 600 police have also been injured. | |
Smaller protests have occurred in the capital, Ankara, too. | 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. | Police there have used water cannon and tear gas to break up demonstrations almost every night. |