Turkey protests: Ruling AK party may hold vote on park

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

The deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling AK party says it is open to the idea of a referendum on controversial plans to redevelop Istanbul's Gezi Park.

Huseyin Celik hoped the "gesture of goodwill" would clear the area, but said those who remained would "face the police".

Police treatment of people campaigning against the redevelopment triggered broader demonstrations from 31 May.

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Senior European diplomats have expressed deep concern over Turkey's response to the protests. There is still no obvious way out of the impasse that has seen unrest in cities across the country for the past two weeks.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22882460

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Meanwhile :

Death toll rises to 5 in Turkey protests.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- A lawyer says a protester injured during clashes with Turkish riot police has died, raising the death toll to five from the two-week standoff between police and activists that has challenged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.

The protests centered on Istanbul's Taksim Square looked set to continue Thursday despite a referendum offer over a contested development plan presented a day earlier by Erdogan's party.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_TURKEY_PROTESTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-06-13-04-14-00

[dipsydoodle]

1. Turkey protesters say PM vows to respect courts on park plans

(Reuters) - Turkish protesters said on Friday Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had pledged hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court ruled on the project, a move they said was a positive sign after two weeks of protest.

Erdogan met a delegation overnight mostly made up of actors and artists but also including two members of the umbrella protest group Taksim Solidarity, hours after saying his patience had run out and warning protesters occupying Gezi Park to leave.

Taksim Solidarity said Erdogan had promised to abide by the outcome of a court case filed in an effort to stop the redevelopment and would hold a referendum on the plans if the court found in the government's favor.

"The prime minister said that if the results of the public vote turned out in a way which would leave this area as a park, they will abide by it," Tayfun Kahraman of the protest group told reporters following the meeting.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/14/us-turkey-protests-idUSBRE9590QA20130614