In Istanbul, Police Move Against Anti-Government Protesters

Riot police pushed into Istanbul's Taksim Square on Tuesday, removing barricades and pushing anti-government protesters away, NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

Some of the protesters could be seen throwing Molotov cocktails toward the police, who responded with tear gas and blasts from water cannons. Protesters could then be seen fleeing. Witnesses say there were "several dozen" protesters injured, Reuters says.

It was a renewed show of force by the government after nearly two weeks of protests that have spread to other Turkish cities. What began as a peaceful demonstration against plans to develop Istanbul's Gezi Park has grown. Those who believe that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is pushing for too many conservative changes, such as restrictions on the sale of alcohol, have used the government's initially harsh reaction to the protests against the park development as a rallying cry.

According to The Wall Street Journal, on Tuesday the government tried to differentiate between the protesters who were in Taksim Square and those who have been occupying the park:

"Istanbul's governor sought to draw a distinction between violent protesters damaging the country's image and peaceful demonstrators at the adjacent park that spawned the wider protests.

"Speaking at a news conference around three hours after hundreds of Turkish riot police moved into Taksim Square early Tuesday, Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu said police intervened to clear 'marginal groups' from the square but the government doesn't intend to move against peaceful demonstrators in Gezi Park, where he said protesters have shown 'sensibility.' "

Reuters reports that during Tuesday's operation to clear the square, "police appealed to the protesters not to throw rocks, calling from loudspeakers, 'Dear Gezi friends. We are unhappy with this situation. We don't want to intervene. We don't want to harm you. Please withdraw.' "

The wire service adds that "Turkey's Medical Association said that as of late Monday, 4,947 people had sought treatment in hospitals and voluntary infirmaries for injuries, ranging from cuts and burns to breathing difficulties from tear gas inhalation, since the unrest began more than 10 days ago."

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