Sunday 16 June 2013

Riot police pour into Istanbul

Source BBC News@ tienganhvui.com




After dramatic clashes overnight, Istanbul is now calm - says BBC reporter James Reynolds




Riot police from the Turkish provinces have been flown into protest-torn Istanbul as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan prepares to rally supporters.


Some 1,000 riot police officers arrived at Ataturk Airport from regions as far away as Diyarbakir and Sirnak in the south-east, Turkish media report.


Istanbul has been tense since riot police broke up a protest camp on Taksim Square on Saturday evening.


They moved in after weeks of protests against Mr Erdogan's policies.


The protests began in earnest on 31 May against a plan to redevelop 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.


Planting flowers

On Sunday morning, bulldozers cleared away barricades erected by the demonstrators around the square and its main green space, Gezi Park.


Municipal workers could be seen planting flowers as police maintained security cordons.


During the night, riot police fought running battles with protesters, driving them back with tear gas and water cannon.


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 protesters have lost their heartland around Gezi Park and may have to rethink their strategy now, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from the city.





Riot police pass Taksim Square in Istanbul, 16 JuneRiot police in Istanbul have been receiving reinforcements from the Turkish provinces.


Water cannon spray hits a protester in Ankara, 16 JunePolice in the capital, Ankara, used water cannon on solidarity protesters on Sunday.


Police form a cordon in Taksim Square, Istanbul, 16 JuneIn Istanbul, police formed a cordon around Taksim Square on Sunday.


Bulldozers work in Taksim Square, Istanbul, 16 JuneBulldozers were at work, clearing away the barricades erected by protesters.


Municipal workers plant flowers in Taksim Square, 16 JuneMunicipal workers could be seen planting flowers in the square.


A protester is surrounded by riot police in Istanbul, late on 15 JuneRiot police chased protesters from the city centre through the night.


Gendarmes on duty on the Bosphorous Bridge in Istanbul, early in 16 JuneGendarmes were deployed at the city's strategic Bosphorous Bridge.





Erdogan rally

Riot police could be seen leaving the 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.



Protest timeline


31 May: Protests begin in Gezi Park over plans to redevelop one of Istanbul's few green spaces


3 June: Protesters establish camps with makeshift facilities from libraries to food centres


4-10 June: Protests widen into show of anti-government dissent in towns and cities across Turkey; clashes between police and demonstrators


11/12 June: Night of clashes see riot police disperse anti-government demonstrators in Taksim Square, which adjoins Gezi Park; camps in the park remain


13 June: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issues a "final warning" to protesters to leave Gezi Park


14 June: Government agrees to suspend Gezi Park redevelopment plans until a court rules on the issue, PM holds talks with members of a key protest group


15 June: Police move in, clearing protesters from Gezi Park




The rally in support of Mr Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), is planned for the early evening, on the outskirts of the city.


Mr Erdogan, a hate figure for the protesters, has agreed to postpone the redevelopment of the park while the courts consider the project's legality.


But he insisted the park had to be "evacuated" by the security forces.


Activists have been calling on protesters to return to the city centre.


Witnesses say Saturday was one of the worst nights of unrest since Gezi Park was occupied 18 days ago.


Clashes continued into Sunday morning in the streets around the square, eyewitnesses say.


Thousands of people also took to the streets of the capital, Ankara, to express support for the protests and unrest continued there on Sunday.


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.


Map of protest locations in Turkey and Istanbul


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