[h=3]By JOE PARKINSON And EMRE PEKER[/h]ISTANBUL—Hundreds of Turkish riot police moved into Istanbul's Taksim Square early on Tuesday, firing tear gas in a bid to clear a landmark area that has become the epicenter of a nationwide demonstration against government policies.
The security forces moved in at about 7:30 a.m., firing plumes of tear gas and water cannons and dismantling barricades, while some protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails back. At around 8 a.m. battalions of police were positioned around the perimeter of the square.
Security forces did not attempt to move in on the adjacent Gezi Park, the patch of grassland next to the square that spawned the broader protests where thousands of protesters have been camped since authorities earlier quashed a movement to keep the government from rebuilding a historic Ottoman barracks at the park.
The aim of the incursion was to remove the banners in the park and from the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of Turkey's republic, and not touch the demonstrators in Gezi Park, said Istanbul Gov. Huseyin Mutlu in a statement.
"Our security forces will only take action to remove banners and pictures. This effort has absolutely no dimension targeting Gezi Park and Taksim. Action toward people present at Gezi Park and Taksim is out of the question," the governor said, adding that the present situation around the area won't affect the democratic protesters.
Police also moved to clear barricades and disperse crowds on Siraselviler Avenue leading up to Taksim Square. Security forces fired tear gas at protesters as they fled the area, with one vehicle catching fire in the process. An armored police vehicle mounted with a water cannon, which had also been used to spray demonstrators with pepper gas, tore down an unmanned, makeshift protester barricade at the entry of Siraselviler and doused the burning vehicle with water.
The police action came a day after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first conciliatory gesture toward the protests that are entering a third week over concerns that new government policies will restrict lifestyles.
Mr. Erdogan defied protesters with back to back rallies drawing tens of thousands of his supporters in three cities over the weekend. He continued to say the protests were being hijacked by extremists, while also conceding that the he's open to hear the democratic demand of environmentalist groups. The prime minister and his deputies have said that they won't allow illegal demonstrations to continue.
"We have been waiting for this to happen," said protester Ugur Hacan, a 24-year-old artistic director for TV series and movies. "It was obvious that the police would come Erdogan's threatening comments."
"As long as the police don't interfere with Gezi Park, the protests will continue. I believe more people might come after this action," Mr. Hacan said.
Mr. Hacan, who has been at the protests for the last nine days, said he and three other friends were sleeping at the park when the police entered the square. The four they said they woke up half an hour earlier than usual when the police came. Mr. Hacan said police did not confront the protesters directly.
Taksim Square subway was still functioning on Tuesday, and some commuters emerging from the metro were caught in the melee. "We need to talk rather than fight each other. I hope this can be resolved quickly," said Can Ozdemir, a hotel waiter, as he eyes streamed from the tear gas.
Speaking after a weekly cabinet meeting in Ankara Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Mr. Erdogan would meet some demonstration representatives on Wednesday and others at another time, without providing additional details.
Write to Joe Parkinson at [email protected] and Emre Peker at [email protected]
The security forces moved in at about 7:30 a.m., firing plumes of tear gas and water cannons and dismantling barricades, while some protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails back. At around 8 a.m. battalions of police were positioned around the perimeter of the square.
Security forces did not attempt to move in on the adjacent Gezi Park, the patch of grassland next to the square that spawned the broader protests where thousands of protesters have been camped since authorities earlier quashed a movement to keep the government from rebuilding a historic Ottoman barracks at the park.
The aim of the incursion was to remove the banners in the park and from the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of Turkey's republic, and not touch the demonstrators in Gezi Park, said Istanbul Gov. Huseyin Mutlu in a statement.
"Our security forces will only take action to remove banners and pictures. This effort has absolutely no dimension targeting Gezi Park and Taksim. Action toward people present at Gezi Park and Taksim is out of the question," the governor said, adding that the present situation around the area won't affect the democratic protesters.
Police also moved to clear barricades and disperse crowds on Siraselviler Avenue leading up to Taksim Square. Security forces fired tear gas at protesters as they fled the area, with one vehicle catching fire in the process. An armored police vehicle mounted with a water cannon, which had also been used to spray demonstrators with pepper gas, tore down an unmanned, makeshift protester barricade at the entry of Siraselviler and doused the burning vehicle with water.
The police action came a day after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first conciliatory gesture toward the protests that are entering a third week over concerns that new government policies will restrict lifestyles.
Mr. Erdogan defied protesters with back to back rallies drawing tens of thousands of his supporters in three cities over the weekend. He continued to say the protests were being hijacked by extremists, while also conceding that the he's open to hear the democratic demand of environmentalist groups. The prime minister and his deputies have said that they won't allow illegal demonstrations to continue.
"We have been waiting for this to happen," said protester Ugur Hacan, a 24-year-old artistic director for TV series and movies. "It was obvious that the police would come Erdogan's threatening comments."
"As long as the police don't interfere with Gezi Park, the protests will continue. I believe more people might come after this action," Mr. Hacan said.
Mr. Hacan, who has been at the protests for the last nine days, said he and three other friends were sleeping at the park when the police entered the square. The four they said they woke up half an hour earlier than usual when the police came. Mr. Hacan said police did not confront the protesters directly.
Taksim Square subway was still functioning on Tuesday, and some commuters emerging from the metro were caught in the melee. "We need to talk rather than fight each other. I hope this can be resolved quickly," said Can Ozdemir, a hotel waiter, as he eyes streamed from the tear gas.
Speaking after a weekly cabinet meeting in Ankara Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Mr. Erdogan would meet some demonstration representatives on Wednesday and others at another time, without providing additional details.
Write to Joe Parkinson at [email protected] and Emre Peker at [email protected]