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Erdogan in 'final' protest warning | Erdogan in 'final' protest warning |
(35 minutes later) | |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a "final warning" to protesters to leave Gezi Park in Istanbul. | Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a "final warning" to protesters to leave Gezi Park in Istanbul. |
"Our patience is at an end. I am making my warning for the last time," he said. | "Our patience is at an end. I am making my warning for the last time," he said. |
Clashes between police and protesters in the park and adjoining Taksim Square have continued for nearly two weeks. | Clashes between police and protesters in the park and adjoining Taksim Square have continued for nearly two weeks. |
Activists have said they will not leave Gezi Park until the government abandons plans to redevelop it. Mr Erdogan has promised a local vote on its future. | Activists have said they will not leave Gezi Park until the government abandons plans to redevelop it. Mr Erdogan has promised a local vote on its future. |
Such a plebiscite would not be legally binding but Mr Erdogan implied he would honour its outcome. | Such a plebiscite would not be legally binding but Mr Erdogan implied he would honour its outcome. |
"I say to the mothers and fathers please take your children in hand and bring them out," Mr Erdogan declared. | "I say to the mothers and fathers please take your children in hand and bring them out," Mr Erdogan declared. |
"We cannot wait any more because Gezi Park does not belong to occupying forces but to the people." | "We cannot wait any more because Gezi Park does not belong to occupying forces but to the people." |
His speech at a meeting of his ruling AK Party in the capital, Ankara, received a standing ovation. | His speech at a meeting of his ruling AK Party in the capital, Ankara, received a standing ovation. |
'Extremists' | |
Gezi Park is a rare patch of green in Turkey's biggest city, and has been the focus of public anger. | Gezi Park is a rare patch of green in Turkey's biggest city, and has been the focus of public anger. |
Plans to redevelop it into a shopping centre were the initial spark for the protests. | Plans to redevelop it into a shopping centre were the initial spark for the protests. |
The prime minister has previously branded the protesters there "extremists" and "looters". | The prime minister has previously branded the protesters there "extremists" and "looters". |
The suggestion of a public vote on the park's future is unlikely to appease many of the protesters still encamped there. | |
"There is already a court decision which orders the suspension of work in Gezi Park," said Tayfun Kahraman from Taksim Solidarity, one of the environmentalist groups fighting to save the area. | |
It was not even legal to consider a referendum on such an issue, since such votes could only be held on constitutional matters, he added. | |
"Are they going to ask us whether we approve of chopping down trees? What would the result change anyway?" 22-year-old student Arzu told AFP news agency. |