Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed his call on anti-government demonstrators to end their protests, Press TV<\/b> reports.\n<\/p>\n
On Friday, Erdogan asked the protesters occupying Istanbul’s Gezi Park near the iconic Taksim Square to leave the area \u00c5\u201cby tonight.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cI hope it will be over by tonight\u2026. Please now leave the Gezi Park and go to your homes,\u201d Erdogan said.\n<\/p>\n
The Turkish premier went on to say that the message of the protesters has been heard.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cYou have stayed here as long as you could and have relayed your message. If your message is about Taksim Gezi Park, it has been received and evaluated.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The Taksim protesters say the issue is not just Gezi Park, adding that they will continue their protests against the \u00cb\u0153increasingly authoritarian style\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 of Erdogan\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s administration.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, negotiations between Turkish prime minister and the representatives of anti-government protesters ended inconclusively.\n<\/p>\n
The protesters dismissed Erdogan\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s \u00c5\u201clast warning\u201d to evacuate the park.\n<\/p>\n
The unrest in Turkey erupted after police broke up a sit-in staged at Taksim Square on May 31 to protest against a government plan for the redevelopment of Gezi Park.\n<\/p>\n
The Turkish prime minister has faced international condemnation for his handling of the crisis. Turkish police have also been strongly criticized for using excessive force against the peaceful protests.\n<\/p>\n
Five people, including a police officer, have reportedly died in the clashes and more than 5,000 protesters and 600 police officers have been wounded.\n<\/p>\n
MAM\/KA\/SS<\/p>\n