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Turkey unrest: Fresh violence as PM Erdogan holds rally | Turkey unrest: Fresh violence as PM Erdogan holds rally |
(35 minutes later) | |
Fresh unrest has erupted in Ankara and Istanbul, with police firing tear gas and water cannon amid continuing anti-government protests. | Fresh unrest has erupted in Ankara and Istanbul, with police firing tear gas and water cannon amid continuing anti-government protests. |
The unrest flared as PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's supporters gathered for a huge show of strength in Istanbul. | The unrest flared as PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's supporters gathered for a huge show of strength in Istanbul. |
Referring to the police action to clear Istanbul's Taksim Square of protesters, he said it was his "duty as PM". | |
Two major trade union groups have called a one-day nationwide strike for Monday in protest at police violence. | |
Baki Cinar, a spokesman for one of the groups, Kesk, told Agence France-Presse news agency: "Our demand is for police violence to end immediately." | |
The protests began on 28 May against a plan to redevelop nearby Gezi Park, but snowballed into nationwide anti-government protests after the perceived high-handed response of the authorities under their three-term prime minister. | The protests began on 28 May against a plan to redevelop nearby Gezi Park, but snowballed into nationwide anti-government protests after the perceived high-handed response of the authorities under their three-term prime minister. |
Medical officials estimate that 5,000 people have been injured and at least four killed since protests began. | Medical officials estimate that 5,000 people have been injured and at least four killed since protests began. |
Running battles | Running battles |
Police fired tear gas and water cannon to clear demonstrators in Ankara's Kizilay Square on Sunday afternoon. | Police fired tear gas and water cannon to clear demonstrators in Ankara's Kizilay Square on Sunday afternoon. |
At least four people were injured. | At least four people were injured. |
Police earlier dispersed a memorial service in the capital for a protester who died of injuries during a demonstration. | Police earlier dispersed a memorial service in the capital for a protester who died of injuries during a demonstration. |
Tear gas and water cannon were also fired in Istanbul's Taksim Square. | Tear gas and water cannon were also fired in Istanbul's Taksim Square. |
Activists have been calling on protesters to return to the area after the police action on Saturday night. | Activists have been calling on protesters to return to the area after the police action on Saturday night. |
However, there is a tight police cordon at the square, with bag searches and identity checks. | However, there is a tight police cordon at the square, with bag searches and identity checks. |
Istanbul's governor, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, said the public would not be allowed into the square, adding that it would be "unsafe" for protesters to try to gather. | Istanbul's governor, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, said the public would not be allowed into the square, adding that it would be "unsafe" for protesters to try to gather. |
He also said two security officials were wounded "by a pistol" during the clashes. | He also said two security officials were wounded "by a pistol" during the clashes. |
Witnesses say Saturday was one of the worst nights of unrest since Gezi Park was occupied 18 days ago. | Witnesses say Saturday was one of the worst nights of unrest since Gezi Park was occupied 18 days ago. |
Riot police fought running battles with protesters. | Riot police fought running battles with protesters. |
The appearance of troopers from the country's gendarmerie, a military force under the control of the interior ministry in peacetime, jolted some demonstrators at the city's strategic Bosphorous Bridge. | The appearance of troopers from the country's gendarmerie, a military force under the control of the interior ministry in peacetime, jolted some demonstrators at the city's strategic Bosphorous Bridge. |
Clashes continued into Sunday morning in the streets around the square, eyewitnesses said. | Clashes continued into Sunday morning in the streets around the square, eyewitnesses said. |
'Unbearable' | |
The rally in support of Mr Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), is taking place in the Kazlicesme district on the edge of the city. | The rally in support of Mr Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), is taking place in the Kazlicesme district on the edge of the city. |
Tens of thousands of supporters turned up to hear Mr Erdogan's speech. | Tens of thousands of supporters turned up to hear Mr Erdogan's speech. |
Mr Erdogan defended the police action in Taksim Square, saying: "I said we were at an end. That it was unbearable. Yesterday the operation was carried out and it was cleaned up. It was my duty as prime minister." | |
The BBC's Chris Morris, in Istanbul, says this was the perfect day, setting and weather for Mr Erdogan to set out his message of "I am the man in charge". | |
"The people are here, where are the looters?" the crowd chanted. | "The people are here, where are the looters?" the crowd chanted. |
One supporter, Ruveyda Alkan, told Reuters: "We are the silent majority, not the riff-raff who are trying to frighten us." | One supporter, Ruveyda Alkan, told Reuters: "We are the silent majority, not the riff-raff who are trying to frighten us." |
It is the second rally of the weekend for the PM. In Ankara on Saturday he vowed to crush his opponents in next year's elections. | It is the second rally of the weekend for the PM. In Ankara on Saturday he vowed to crush his opponents in next year's elections. |
Mr Erdogan has agreed to postpone the redevelopment of Gezi Park while the courts consider the project's legality. | Mr Erdogan has agreed to postpone the redevelopment of Gezi Park while the courts consider the project's legality. |
He has also strongly denied opposition accusations that he is becoming increasingly authoritarian, pointing to the 50% of the vote he won in 2011 for his third term of office. | He has also strongly denied opposition accusations that he is becoming increasingly authoritarian, pointing to the 50% of the vote he won in 2011 for his third term of office. |
Some 1,000 riot police have now arrived from regions as far away as Diyarbakir and Sirnak, media report, to try to curb the Istanbul unrest. | Some 1,000 riot police have now arrived from regions as far away as Diyarbakir and Sirnak, media report, to try to curb the Istanbul unrest. |
Riot police could be seen leaving the city's airport and getting on to coaches bound for the city. | Riot police could be seen leaving the city's airport and getting on to coaches bound for the city. |
At least 350 police on duty at the airport were also deployed to the city centre in case of possible clashes, Turkey's Dogan news agency reports. | At least 350 police on duty at the airport were also deployed to the city centre in case of possible clashes, Turkey's Dogan news agency reports. |
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