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| Turkey protests: Istanbul erupts as Gezi Park cleared | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Protesters have clashed with Turkish police in Istanbul, after riot squads used tear gas and water cannon to eject demonstrators from Gezi Park. | Protesters have clashed with Turkish police in Istanbul, after riot squads used tear gas and water cannon to eject demonstrators from Gezi Park. |
| The protesters quickly fled the park, but later erected barricades across nearby streets and lit bonfires. | The protesters quickly fled the park, but later erected barricades across nearby streets and lit bonfires. |
| Witnesses said it was one of the worst nights of unrest since the park was occupied 18 days ago. | Witnesses said it was one of the worst nights of unrest since the park was occupied 18 days ago. |
| Police blocked off the Bosphorus Bridge to stop demonstrators reaching Taksim Square, where the park is located. | |
| Clashes continued into Sunday morning in the streets around the square, eyewitnesses say. On the square itself, bulldozers went to work, clearing away the protesters' abandoned barricades. | |
| Thousands of people also took to the streets of the capital, Ankara, to express support for the protests. | Thousands of people also took to the streets of the capital, Ankara, to express support for the protests. |
| The Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) also said it would call a nationwide strike on Monday, while another union grouping is deciding whether to join the action. | The Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) also said it would call a nationwide strike on Monday, while another union grouping is deciding whether to join the action. |
| Medical officials estimate that 5,000 people have been injured and at least four killed since protests began in earnest on 31 May. | Medical officials estimate that 5,000 people have been injured and at least four killed since protests began in earnest on 31 May. |
| Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to hold a rally in Istanbul later on Sunday. | |
| Protesters dislodged | |
| The protests began as a local protest against a plan to redevelop Gezi Park, but snowballed into nationwide anti-government protests after the perceived high-handed response of the authorities. | The protests began as a local protest against a plan to redevelop Gezi Park, but snowballed into nationwide anti-government protests after the perceived high-handed response of the authorities. |
| Earlier in the week the police cleared Taksim Square, in which the park is located, but the government had since appeared to be more conciliatory. | Earlier in the week the police cleared Taksim Square, in which the park is located, but the government had since appeared to be more conciliatory. |
| Mr Erdogan, a hate figure for the protesters, had agreed to postpone the redevelopment while the courts considered the project's legality. | |
| However, in a speech to supporters of his Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara on Saturday he said the park had to be "evacuated" by the security forces. | However, in a speech to supporters of his Justice and Development (AK) Party in Ankara on Saturday he said the park had to be "evacuated" by the security forces. |
| And late on Saturday riot squads moved in, taking just 30 minutes to dislodge the protesters. | And late on Saturday riot squads moved in, taking just 30 minutes to dislodge the 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Clashes then erupted around the city, with protesters ripping up paving stones and tearing down fences to use as barricades. In some areas they chanted: "Tayyip resign." | Clashes then erupted around the city, with protesters ripping up paving stones and tearing down fences to use as barricades. In some areas they chanted: "Tayyip resign." |
| Police chased protesters to hotels where they had taken refuge, and some activists claimed medical facilities were targeted with water cannon and tear gas. | Police chased protesters to hotels where they had taken refuge, and some activists claimed medical facilities were targeted with water cannon and tear gas. |
| Taner Akcesme, who lives 10 minutes from Gezi park, told the BBC he had been woken at 06:00 (03:00 GMT) on Sunday by the noise of police chasing protesters. People had to shut their windows, he said, because of the tear gas filling the street. | |
| In Ankara, thousands of protesters gathered for a rally near the US embassy. | In Ankara, thousands of protesters gathered for a rally near the US embassy. |
| International concern | International concern |
| Our correspondent says the prime minister has won back the ground that he lost to protesters two weeks ago. | Our correspondent says the prime minister has 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. | But it is not yet clear which side has won the larger fight for the country's support. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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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