Erdogan urges protesters to end Gezi Park occupation
Protesters in Istanbul's Gezi Park have this message for the Prime Minister --- We aren't going aywhere.
SOUNDBITE: Turkish Protester Biran Mirza saying (Turkish):
"If his understanding of an end is to come here and destroy our tents, then I can say that with our collaborative resistance and with everything that people have gained by coming together here, he cannot end us."
Earlier on Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called for demonstrators to end their occupation of the park -- but also said he would shelve a plan to develop the space pending a court ruling.
SOUNDBITE: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan saying (Turkish):
"You 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."
His tone, was surprisingly concilliatory --- an "about face" from Erdogan's earlier efforts to eject demonstrators by force.
SOUNDBITE: Turkish Protester Biran Mirza saying (Turkish):
"If his understanding of an end is to come here and destroy our tents, then I can say that with our collaborative resistance and with everything that people have gained by coming together here, he cannot end us."
Earlier on Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called for demonstrators to end their occupation of the park -- but also said he would shelve a plan to develop the space pending a court ruling.
SOUNDBITE: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan saying (Turkish):
"You 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."
His tone, was surprisingly concilliatory --- an "about face" from Erdogan's earlier efforts to eject demonstrators by force.