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| Turkey protests: Ruling AK party may hold vote on park | Turkey protests: Ruling AK party may hold vote on park |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling AK party says it is open to the idea of a referendum on controversial plans to redevelop Istanbul's Gezi Park. | The deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling AK party says it is open to the idea of a referendum on controversial plans to redevelop Istanbul's Gezi Park. |
| Huseyin Celik hoped the "gesture of goodwill" would clear the area. | Huseyin Celik hoped the "gesture of goodwill" would clear the area. |
| But he warned: "Those... who seek to provoke and remain in the park will face the police." | But he warned: "Those... who seek to provoke and remain in the park will face the police." |
| Police treatment of protesters campaigning against the redevelopment triggered broader demonstrations that have continued since 31 May. | Police treatment of protesters campaigning against the redevelopment triggered broader demonstrations that have continued since 31 May. |
| "We might put it to a referendum... In democracies only the will of the people counts," Mr Celik said. | "We might put it to a referendum... In democracies only the will of the people counts," Mr Celik said. |
| "We think that after this gesture of goodwill, people will decide to go home." | "We think that after this gesture of goodwill, people will decide to go home." |
| The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says Mr Celik's comments represent the first time that the AK party has openly discussed letting voters decide what happens to the park. Demonstrators have remained there throughout the protests. | The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says Mr Celik's comments represent the first time that the AK party has openly discussed letting voters decide what happens to the park. Demonstrators have remained there throughout the protests. |
| There has been a mixed reaction among protesters on Twitter, with some welcoming the proposal and others mistrustful of the authorities. | There has been a mixed reaction among protesters on Twitter, with some welcoming the proposal and others mistrustful of the authorities. |
| Turkish media reported on Wednesday that PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan had told the interior minister to end the protests in Gezi Park within 24 hours. | Turkish media reported on Wednesday that PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan had told the interior minister to end the protests in Gezi Park within 24 hours. |
| More than 20 opposition MPs have gone to the park to try to prevent any police intervention. | More than 20 opposition MPs have gone to the park to try to prevent any police intervention. |
| During the day, Mr Erdogan met 11 activists, but protest leaders dismissed the meeting. | During the day, Mr Erdogan met 11 activists, but protest leaders dismissed the meeting. |
| Senior European diplomats have expressed strong concern over Turkey's response to the protests. | Senior European diplomats have expressed strong concern over Turkey's response to the protests. |
| There is still no obvious way out of the impasse that has seen anti-government protests in cities across Turkey over the past two weeks, says the BBC's Chris Morris in Istanbul. | |
| 'Freedom of speech' | 'Freedom of speech' |
| Hundreds of protesters gathered in Taksim Square on Wednesday evening, although the square is about half as full as it was on Tuesday. | |
| Police stood back along the edges of the square, which had been clear during the day after a series of violent clashes between police and protesters on Tuesday and overnight. | Police stood back along the edges of the square, which had been clear during the day after a series of violent clashes between police and protesters on Tuesday and overnight. |
| Meanwhile, there were reports of renewed clashes between security forces and demonstrators in the capital, Ankara. | |
| Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters in the city centre, the AFP news agency reports. | |
| In both Ankara and Istanbul, on Wednesday thousands of lawyers left court in their black robes to march through the streets, protesting against the treatment of their colleagues during demonstrations. | In both Ankara and Istanbul, on Wednesday thousands of lawyers left court in their black robes to march through the streets, protesting against the treatment of their colleagues during demonstrations. |
| Dozens of lawyers were briefly held in Istanbul on Tuesday as they voiced their opposition to police action to clear the square. | Dozens of lawyers were briefly held in Istanbul on Tuesday as they voiced their opposition to police action to clear the square. |
| "Our friends who had been detained in Istanbul were taken under custody just because they were reading a press release," said one of the lawyers in Ankara, Mehmet Toker. "We are here to defend freedom of speech." | "Our friends who had been detained in Istanbul were taken under custody just because they were reading a press release," said one of the lawyers in Ankara, Mehmet Toker. "We are here to defend freedom of speech." |
| Demonstrators accuse Mr Erdogan of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state. | Demonstrators accuse Mr Erdogan of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state. |
| "Oppression has been going on for months," said another lawyer, Ege Inal. | "Oppression has been going on for months," said another lawyer, Ege Inal. |
| "The government is exactly like the ones that they have been criticising. That is why we are here." | "The government is exactly like the ones that they have been criticising. That is why we are here." |
| Late in the afternoon, Mr Erdogan met a group of 11 people - including artists, architects and a social media specialist - to discuss the situation in Gezi Park. | Late in the afternoon, Mr Erdogan met a group of 11 people - including artists, architects and a social media specialist - to discuss the situation in Gezi Park. |
| Kutlug Ataman, a filmmaker who attended the meeting, told CNN that Mr Erdogan had said he would propose a referendum on the issue to the AK party's decision-making committee. | Kutlug Ataman, a filmmaker who attended the meeting, told CNN that Mr Erdogan had said he would propose a referendum on the issue to the AK party's decision-making committee. |
| Those in the park and Taksim Solidarity, an umbrella group seen as most representative of the protesters, said the group that Mr Erdogan met did not speak for them. | Those in the park and Taksim Solidarity, an umbrella group seen as most representative of the protesters, said the group that Mr Erdogan met did not speak for them. |
| "As police violence continues mercilessly... these meetings will in no way lead to a solution," a statement from Taksim Solidarity said. | "As police violence continues mercilessly... these meetings will in no way lead to a solution," a statement from Taksim Solidarity said. |
| Twelve days in Taksim Square | Twelve days in Taksim Square |
| Protests in Taksim Square since 1 June | Protests in Taksim Square since 1 June |
| Mr Erdogan had earlier said protests would no longer be tolerated, dismissing protesters as "looters". | Mr Erdogan had earlier said protests would no longer be tolerated, dismissing protesters as "looters". |
| Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who has taken a more conciliatory line than Mr Erdogan, said authorities should listen to protesters' grievances. | Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who has taken a more conciliatory line than Mr Erdogan, said authorities should listen to protesters' grievances. |
| "If people have objections, then to engage in a dialogue with these people, to hear out what they say is no doubt our duty," he told reporters. | "If people have objections, then to engage in a dialogue with these people, to hear out what they say is no doubt our duty," he told reporters. |
| European Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said the unrest represented a "key moment" for Turkey, and a "chance for it to renew its commitment to European values". | European Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said the unrest represented a "key moment" for Turkey, and a "chance for it to renew its commitment to European values". |
| The Turkish Human Rights Foundation said more than 620 people had been injured in Tuesday's police crackdown. | The Turkish Human Rights Foundation said more than 620 people had been injured in Tuesday's police crackdown. |
| Since the protests began, four people have been killed, including one policeman and some 5,000 protesters as well as hundreds of police officers are estimated to have been injured. | Since the protests began, four people have been killed, including one policeman and some 5,000 protesters as well as hundreds of police officers are estimated to have been injured. |
| Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said the unrest was the "first serious test for the endurance of democracy in Turkey and its accession to Europe", while German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed his concern in a statement. | Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said the unrest was the "first serious test for the endurance of democracy in Turkey and its accession to Europe", while German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed his concern in a statement. |
| "We expect Prime Minister Erdogan to de-escalate the situation, in the spirit of European values, and to seek a constructive exchange and peaceful dialogue," he said. | "We expect Prime Minister Erdogan to de-escalate the situation, in the spirit of European values, and to seek a constructive exchange and peaceful dialogue," he said. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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