Angry Turks clash with police and call on their government to resign
The streets of Istanbul and Ankara were echoing with cries of “thieves” and “resign” on Friday night as demonstrators showed their anger with the government and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
There were clashes with riot police on the edge of Taksim square, which was blocked off to prevent people gathering there. Hundreds of people were involved in the demonstrations, and hundreds also turned out at Ankara airport, but these were Erdogan loyalists, who also turned out in their thousands in Istanbul to support him.
“We want Turkey to get out of this chaos. We want our rights, we want freedom. We want democracy,” said one elderly man.
“I am here to say stop robbing and plundering Turkey. I am here to condemn bribery and ask the government to resign,” said another man.
As Friday night passed into Saturday morning the clashes in sidestreets off Taksim continued, with demonstrators now numbering in the thousands. Sunday may see much bigger shows of strength from both sides.
There were clashes with riot police on the edge of Taksim square, which was blocked off to prevent people gathering there. Hundreds of people were involved in the demonstrations, and hundreds also turned out at Ankara airport, but these were Erdogan loyalists, who also turned out in their thousands in Istanbul to support him.
“We want Turkey to get out of this chaos. We want our rights, we want freedom. We want democracy,” said one elderly man.
“I am here to say stop robbing and plundering Turkey. I am here to condemn bribery and ask the government to resign,” said another man.
As Friday night passed into Saturday morning the clashes in sidestreets off Taksim continued, with demonstrators now numbering in the thousands. Sunday may see much bigger shows of strength from both sides.
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