Turkish police unleash water cannon on protests

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By SUZAN FRASER and AMER COHADZIC

ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkish police used water cannon to disperse thousands gathered in Istanbul's Taksim Square on Saturday to observe a memorial for four people killed during recent anti-government protests. The officers later fired tear gas and rubber bullets, and in some cases beat people with batons, to scatter demonstrators who regrouped in side streets.

The police move came as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that foreign-led conspirators he alleges are behind the anti-government movement in his country also are fomenting the recent unrest in Brazil.

The protests in Turkey erupted three weeks ago after riot police brutally cracked down on peaceful environmental activists who opposed plans to develop Gezi Park, which lies next to Taksim. The demonstrations soon turned into expressions of discontent with what critics say is Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian and meddlesome ways.

Erdogan, who took power a decade ago, denies he is authoritarian and, as evidence of his popularity, points to elections in 2011 that returned his party to power with 50 percent of the vote and gave him a third term in office.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130622/DA731QB80.html

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Riot policemen shoot tear gas during clashes with protesters near Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, June 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. The fires are to carry away tear gas. Turkish police have been adding pepper spray to the water

shot from the water cannons. It is said Turkey is running out of tear gas canisters, having used some estimated 130,000 of them against protesters. I don't have confirmation of that last but it's sadly more likely than not.

"Not an authoritarian"...five people have died on his order, and he refuses to even consider listening to the will of the people he is supposed to represent. He set a meeting with them, but that morning, instead sent thousands of riot police to clear the square.

[Coyotl]

3. #occupygezi is where to get up-to-the-minute updates

:large

Check out how unpopular police are today in Turkey:

Laura Wells ?@wellsla 1h
#Turkey's Int Min: 2.5m people have attended #occupygezi protests in 79 cities; 4,900 have been detained, damage 140mTL: http://bit.ly/12iOzRf

[Coyotl]

4. Fotoğraflarla: İstanbul'da karanfilli protesto

What happened in Turkey yesterday:

Fotoğraflarla: İstanbul'da karanfilli protesto
http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkce/multimedya/2013/06/130622_pic_istanbul_karanfil.shtml