Istanbul’s Taksim Square overnight
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On Tuesday, Turkish police carried out two assaults on protesters in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, the centre of 13 days of nationwide demonstrations challenging the Erdogan Government.
Riot police moved into the square, initially the site of protests against the Government’s plans to re-develop nearby Gezi Park, in the morning with tear gas and water cannon and renewed operations last night from about 8:20 p.m .
Security forces surrounded all roads leading to the square after clearing, chasing some demonstrators in side streets. The Governor of Istanbul Province claimed the operation was a response “marginal groups” who attacked the police in front of the Atatürk Cultural Center.
“I plead with citizens at the site to separate themselves from this marginal group and abandon the square. It is important that our demand is carried out for everyone’s security,” Hüseyin Avni Mutlu wrote.
Crowds had started to fill the square in response to a call from the Taksim Solidarity Platform for a 7 p.m. rally.
Police also moved briefly into Gezi Park during Tuesday, sparking fears that protesters there would also be attacked and forced to disperse.
In the capital Ankara, security forces moved against thousands of protesters for a fourth day in Kizilay Square. Police used tear gas and water cannon about 12:20 a.m. on Wednesday in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintained his defiance, despite reports earlier this week that he would meet leaders of the demonstrations: “Violent actions that took place in many cities of Turkey have camouflaged themselves behind the Gezi Park protests. I request all activists to see the big picture, understand the plot, and withdraw from the streets.”
Erdogan asked MPs of his Justice and Development Party, “What were we supposed to do? Kneel in front of these people and ask them remove the banners? How would those illegal rags be removed from public buildings?”
The co-leader of the opposition BDP, Selahattin Demirtaş, criticised the Government: “They are acting as if [Prime Minister Prime Minister Erdogan] is the temple of democracy, and every slogan chanted at him is an insult to democracy.”
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Bahrain: Propaganda Watch
The latest video from the Ministry of Interior portraying mass protests from February 2011 as a violent threat to the Kingdom:
Turkey: Istanbul’s Taksim Square Tonight
The BBC’s Jeremy Bowen reports on the scene:
Tension high in #Taksim square. Human chain between police and demonstrators taunting them. twitter.com/BowenBBC/statu…
— Jeremy Bowen (@BowenBBC) June 12, 2013
Demo has once again filled #taksim sq. hard to see police tolerating it. Ultimatum from PM for demo to go home. twitter.com/BowenBBC/statu…
— Jeremy Bowen (@BowenBBC) June 12, 2013
Turkey: Lawyers Protest Treatment of Colleagues by Police
Thousands of black-robed lawyers walked out of courthouses in Ankara and Istanbul on Wednesday, protesting treatment of attorneys by police amid anti-government protests.
“Lawyers can’t be dragged on the ground!” lawyers shouted in rhythm as they marched out of an Istanbul courthouse. Riot police, carrying shields, watched.
Turkey’s Human Rights Foundation said the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s office had launched an investigation into allegations of excessive use of police force during the protests. It claimed 620 people, including a one-year-old baby, were injured during operations by security forces on Tuesday and Wednesday, with about 70 people detained.
Turkey: President Calls For Dialogue With Protesters
Taking a conciliatory line in contrast to Prime Minister Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul has said, “I am hopeful that we will surmount this [situation] through democratic maturity. If [the protesters] have objections, we need to hear them, enter into a dialogue. It is our duty to lend them an ear.”
Turkey: Video of Police Tear-Gassing of Taksim Square on Tuesday
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Libya has agreed to provide Tunisia with 450,000 barrels of oil per month at preferential rates from August until the end of 2013, and then 650,000 barrels of a month during 2014.
The deal was signed on Wednesday in Tripoli by Libya’s Oil and Gas Minister Abdulbari Al-Arusi and Tunisian Industry Minister Mahdi Jumaa.
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Turkey: Taksim Square This Morning
From Derek Stoffel of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:
#Taksim Sq Wednesday morning: large parts deserted. Police remain on edges of square. #Turkey twitter.com/DerekStoffelCB…
— Derek Stoffel (@DerekStoffelCBC) June 12, 2013
Egypt: Artists Clash With President’s Supporters
Protesting against the influence of Islamists in the Ministry of Culture, artists and activists clashed with religious supporters of President Mohamed Morsi on Tuesday, injuring several people.
Prominent filmmakers, writers and performers have camped out at the ministry for days, accusing the Minister of Culture Alaa Abdel-Aziz of sacking officials to fill key posts with his allies.
On Tuesday, riot police intervened to separate the protesters from hundreds of Islamists who gathered on the other side of the street. The two sides shouted slogans at each other until parts of each crowd moved away to a nearby bridge and started fighting with stones and sticks.
The Ministry of Health said three policemen and several members of the crowd were wounded.