ISTANBUL, Turkey — Turkish riot police on Sunday sprayed tear gas and water cannons at demonstrators who remained defiant after authorities evicted activists from an Istanbul park, making clear they are taking a hardline against attempts to rekindle protests that have shaken the country. Bulldozers cleared all that was left of a two-week sit-in and police sealed off the area to keep demonstrators away from the spot that has become the focus of the strongest challenge to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his 10 years in office. Protesters set up barricades and plumes of tear gas rose in Istanbul’s streets on Sunday after Turkish riot police rousted the group who had vowed to stay in Gezi Park despite Erdogan’s warnings to leave. In Istanbul, police battled protesters in side streets off the park and beyond. In Ankara, the capital, police dispersed hundreds who tried to hold a memorial service for an activist who died of injuries sustained in a nearby police crackdown nearby on June 1. Read more: ottawacitizen/news/Turkish+police+deploy+block+revival+protests+after+sweep+Istanbul+park/8532709/story.html#ixzz2WNqsb015
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:00:36 +0000
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