Turkish riot police pushed through barricades at Istanbul＇s Taksim Square on Tuesday, firing tear gas and water cannon at hundreds of protesters.
Police moved into Taksim, the center of more than 10 days of anti-government protest, after dawn. Some demonstrators threw stones, fireworks and firebombs at police. Several people were injured.
Most protesters who had been on the square fled into the adjacent Gezi Park, where hundreds have been camping in an attempt to stop a government redevelopment project.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that the demonstrations are a deliberate attempt to damage Turkey＇s image and economy.
He said the protesters are "trying to prevent Turkey＇s rise" and are being used by financial institutions and media groups to harm Turkey＇s economy.
"A systematic project to tarnish Turkey＇s image has been put in place. It has been put in place with the collaboration of inside and outside forces. Turkey＇s international prowess has been targeted during this process,＇＇ said Erdogan.
The police move came after Erdogan agreed to meet with the anti-government protesters on Wednesday.
Many protestors were dubious, though, about what such a meeting would accomplish:
"If he wants to meet, let＇s have a talk, but who will he be meeting? An atheist, an alcoholic or a vagabond? He excluded everybody. So I wonder what he will say to us?＇＇ asked Turkish protester Sipahi Delican.
Some demonstrators threw stones, fireworks and firebombs at police. Police removed protesters＇ banners from a building overlooking the square, replacing them with a Turkish flag.
Three people have died since the marches began almost two weeks ago. Thousands have been hurt and thousands of others arrested.
The demonstrations have evolved into protests against what marchers call the prime minister＇s imposition of his Islamist views on a secular nation. |
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