Turks want Erdogan, his ruling AK Party to step down

100 ribu penunjuk perasaan berkumpul di persegi Taksim yg terkenal Turki - marah dengan rancangan kerajaan untuk meruntuhkan salah satu daripada taman-taman yang tinggal berhampiran persegi, untuk meletakkannya pusat membeli-belah.

Polis serang penunjuk perasaan yg aman menggunakan meriam air dan gas pemedih mata. Tindakan keras berat tangan telah menyebabkan penunjuk perasaan memanggil peletakan jawatan pemerintah Parti AK yang diketuai oleh Perdana Menteri Turki Tayyip Erdogan Raccip.

Penunjuk perasaan di Istanbul melaungkan slogan menentang kerajaan, panggilan Erdogan diktator dan menuntut pengakhiran kepada apa yang mereka dipanggil "pemerintahan autoritarian" beliau.

Bantahan, yang bermula pada hari Selasa oleh penunjuk perasaan menduduki taman, telah mendapat momentum dan telah membawa orang ramai dari semua lapisan masyarakat bersama-sama dalam gerakan menentang kerajaan. Beribu-ribu orang berkumpul di ibu kota Ankara dalam perpaduan dengan protes Istanbul.

Serena Shim, Press TV, Istanbul

100's of thousands of protesters gathered in Turkey's famous Taksim square -- angry with the government's plan to tear down one of the last remaining parks near the square, in order to put up a shopping mall.

Police attacked peaceful protesters using water cannon and tear gas. The heavy-handed crackdown has resulted in protesters calling for the resignation of the ruling AK Party led by Turkish Prime Minister Raccip Tayyip Erdogan.

Protesters in Istanbul chanted slogans against the government, calling Erdogan a dictator and demanding an end to what they called his "authoritarian rule".

The protests, which started on Tuesday by demonstrators occupying the park, have gained momentum and have brought people from all walks of life together in a movement against the government. Thousands of people rallied in the capital Ankara in solidarity with Istanbul protests.

Serena Shim, Press TV, Istanbul

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