- Title: TURKEY: Protesters in Ankara express worry over Taksim Square raid
- Date: 11th June 2013
- Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (JUNE 11, 2013) (REUTERS) VIEW OF MAKESHIFT TENTS AT KUGULU PARK CLOSE OF A BANNER IN TURKISH READING: 'Peace' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AT PARK MORE OF MAKESHIFT TENTS PROTESTERS TALKING TO EACH OTHER MAKESHIFT TENTS MORE OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PROTESTER, ONUR MAT, SAYING: "The struggle at Taksim Square should continue. We hope riot police will not use violence and the peaceful struggle there will continue" (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PROTESTER, DEMIR SERHAT, SAYING: "The raid at Taksim's Gezi Park by riot police was unexpected, especially at this hour of the morning. But we want to reiterate that it is not ethical to try to prevent these demonstrations by using this method. As a group supporting this struggle we are against police intervention." MORE OF MAKESHIFT TENTS AT OCCUPIED KUGULU PARK CLOSE OF A BANNER IN TURKISH READING: 'Freedom to women' PROTESTERS CAMPING AT PARK
- Embargoed: 26th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey
- City:
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Crime,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAEQEJK50C47H77JKI0B95CH7FC
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Protesters occupying Ankara's Kugulu Park to support the activists at Gezi Park voiced concern early on Tuesday morning (June 11) as hundreds of riot police entered Istanbul's Taksim Square.
Riot police fired teargas to scatter small numbers of protesters who have been staging demonstrations against plans to redevelop an adjoining park.
No clashes were reported at the square, but demonstrators in Ankara said they hoped the raid would not discourage Istanbul protesters.
"The struggle at Taksim square should continue. We hope riot police will not use violence and the peaceful struggle there will continue," said protesters Onur Mat.
"The raid to Taksim's Gezi Park by riot police was unexpected, especially at this hour of the morning. But we want to reiterate that it is not ethical to try to prevent these demonstrations by using this method. As a group supporting this struggle we are against police intervention," another protester Demir Serhat said.
Backed by armoured vehicles, police wearing white helmets and carrying shields massed in areas around the square in Istanbul early on Tuesday. Police removed protesters' banners which had been hung from a building overlooking the square and the local governor said the police had no intention of breaking up the protest in the adjoining Gezi Park.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to meet leaders of the movement whose peaceful protests in Istanbul spiralled into a wave of demonstrations against his government in which three people have been killed and about 5,000 hurt. [ - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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