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Police clear Istanbul's Gezi Park after Erdogan warning Police clear Istanbul's Gezi Park after Erdogan warning
(about 2 hours later)
Riot police have moved to clear the protest camp in Istanbul's Gezi Park, using tear gas and water cannon. Turkish riot police have cleared a park in the centre of Istanbul which has been occupied for more than two weeks by anti-government protesters.
Police began dismantling the tents that protesters had put up in the park. Officers moved into Gezi Park in Taksim Square, firing water cannon and tear gas. Several people were hurt, some of them allegedly by rubber bullets.
The move came hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned protesters to evacuate the area ahead of a rally by his AK party on Sunday. There were also reports of continuing stand-offs in other parts of Istanbul.
Plans to redevelop the park sparked a wave of broader anti-government unrest and protesters had vowed to stay there until their demands were met. The police operation came hours after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an end to the occupation.
In a show of overwhelming force, police advanced into the park wearing riot shields and gas marks, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from Gezi Park. He said Taksim Square had to be "evacuated" ahead of a rally planned by his Justice and Development (AK) Party on Sunday.
Most of the protesters left of their own accord to avoid getting hurt, with some regrouping in nearby streets, our correspondent adds. The Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) has said it will call a nationwide strike on Monday, while another union grouping is deciding whether to join the action.
Local residents took to their balconies or leant out of windows banging pots and pans, while car drivers sounded their horns in support of the protesters, Reuters news agency reports. 'Peaceful environment'
Some of the protesters were reportedly receiving medical attention, several of them retreating into a nearby hotel. What began as a protest against plans to redevelop Gezi Park last month has evolved into wider anti-government unrest.
Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu said 29 people had been injured in the raid, but none seriously. Mr Mutlu said only "marginal groups" had remained in the park. Demonstrators had vowed to occupy the park until their demands were met.
"I won't give up," protester May Elbi told AFP. "We're angry, this is not over. The world has seen that together, we can stand up to Tayyip." However, it took riot police less than half an hour on Saturday evening to bring an end to the 18-day occupation.
There have been reports of fresh confrontations in Istanbul after the clearing of the park, with police again using tear gas to disperse protesters. The BBC's James Reynolds, who was at the park, says the officers advanced slowly, wearing gas masks and carrying riot shields, amid a cloud of white tear gas.
In the capital Ankara, thousands of people came out onto the streets to chant anti-government slogans. Most protesters chose to leave to avoid getting hurt. Some regrouped in nearby streets, but police fired more tear gas in an effort to disperse them.
Earlier, in a speech in Ankara, Mr Erdogan told tens of thousands of AK party supporters: "If Taksim Square is not evacuated, this country's security forces will know how to evacuate it." "We tried to flee and the police pursued us. It was like war," Claudia Roth, the co-chair of Germany's Greens party who was in the park, told the Reuters news agency.
"Staying there [in Gezi Park] makes no sense anymore as the matter is now in the hands of the courts," he told tens of thousands of cheering supporters. After the park was cleared of people, police tore down the colourful tents and banners.
"Nobody can intimidate us. We take no orders or instruction from anyone but God," he added. Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu described the operation as "extremely smooth" and said 29 people had been lightly injured.
"We will continue our work to constitute a peaceful environment in the next few hours," he added.
Tayfun Kahraman, a member of the Taksim Solidarity umbrella group of protest movements, said a number of demonstrators had been hit by rubber bullets.
"Let them keep the park, we don't care any more. Let it all be theirs. This crackdown has to stop. The people are in a terrible state,'' he told the Associated Press.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Erdogan told tens of thousands of AK supporters in Ankara: "If Taksim Square is not evacuated, this country's security forces will know how to evacuate it.
"Staying there [in Gezi Park] makes no sense anymore as the matter is now in the hands of the courts. Nobody can intimidate us. We take no orders or instruction from anyone but God."
He also dismissed the wave of demonstrations as part of an organised plot against him.He also dismissed the wave of demonstrations as part of an organised plot against him.
One protest group responded to Mr Erdogan's speech by calling for another mass rally in Taksim Square. Istanbul is also set to host an AK party rally on Sunday, Our correspondent says the prime minister has now won back the ground that he lost to protesters two weeks ago.
But it is not yet clear which side has won the larger fight for the country's support, our correspondent adds.
Rising 'authoritarianism'Rising 'authoritarianism'
On 31 May, a crackdown on environmentalists in Gezi Park provoked protests across Turkey against the police's actions and against Mr Erdogan's government. On 31 May, a crackdown on environmentalists in Gezi Park provoked protests across Turkey against the police and Mr Erdogan's government.
On Saturday, the protesters vowed to stay there, despite a promise by Mr Erdogan to halt the development plan for the park until a court ruling on the issue. On Saturday, the protesters vowed to continue occupying Gezi Park despite a promise by Mr Erdogan to halt the development plan for the park until a court ruling on the issue.
Last month, an Istanbul court issued an initial injunction against the plan to cut down trees in the park to make way for a shopping centre and replica 18th-Century military barracks. The government has appealed against the ruling.Last month, an Istanbul court issued an initial injunction against the plan to cut down trees in the park to make way for a shopping centre and replica 18th-Century military barracks. The government has appealed against the ruling.
Mr Erdogan's offer was presented as a major concession. But after discussions in Gezi Park on Friday night, the protesters said their movement was more than just a conservation protest and vowed to stay on.Mr Erdogan's offer was presented as a major concession. But after discussions in Gezi Park on Friday night, the protesters said their movement was more than just a conservation protest and vowed to stay on.
Five people have died and thousands have been injured since the protests began.Five people have died and thousands have been injured since the protests began.
Demonstrators have accused Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and of trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.Demonstrators have accused Mr Erdogan's government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and of trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.
The police crackdown on protesters in Istanbul, Ankara, and other towns and cities has drawn international concern, especially from Europe.The police crackdown on protesters in Istanbul, Ankara, and other towns and cities has drawn international concern, especially from Europe.
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