Police clear Taksim square after night of violent clashes
Turkish riot police used tear gas and water cannon to gain control of Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Tuesday night in some of the worst violence since trouble flared two weeks ago.
Police in Istanbul fought running battles through the night with protesters before clearing Taksim Square.
Tear gas was fired as thousands gathered to defend the square, which has been one of the central rallying points for protests over the last ten days. Water cannon swept across the square targeting masked protesters who were building bonfires and throwing petrol bombs.
The protesters accuse prime minister Tayyip Erdogan of overreaching his authority after 10 years in power and three election victories. Erdogan had earlier called on protesters to stay out of Taksim.
Gezi Park has been turned into a protest camp by leftists, environmentalists, liberals, students and professionals who see the plans to develop it as symptomatic of an overbearing government.
Taxis were able to drive through Taksim Square today for the first time since the protests began 10 days ago, police used bulldozers to remove barricades built from piles of rubble.
Prime minister Erdogan has agreed to meet protest leaders from the initial demonstrations against development of the park, stating: “I invite all demonstrators, all protesters, to see the big picture and the game that is being played.”
“The ones who are sincere should withdraw … and I expect this from them as their prime minister.”
Protesters have raised suspicions that Erdogan has ambitions to replace Turkey’s secular republic with an Islamic state, a charge he denies.
Student protester Seyyit Cikmen explained: “This movement won’t end here … After this, I don’t think people will go back to being afraid of this government or any government.”
The Turkish Medical Association has revealed that 4,947 people sought treatment in hospitals for injuries related to the protests ranging from cuts and burns to breathing difficulties from tear gas inhalation. Three people have died in the unrest.
A meeting agreed by deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc with the Gezi Park protest group is expected to take place today.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has described the scenes from Taksim square as “disturbing” and called on the Turkish government to resolve the situation.
“We expect Prime Minister Erdogan to deescalate the situation, in the spirit of European values, and to seek a constructive exchange and peaceful dialogue.”