Turmoil in Turkey: PM Erdogan faces biggest challenge to his 10-year rule

Para penunjuk perasaan telah mendakwa kemenangan berikutan hujung minggu dalam pertempuran dengan polis, tetapi Recep Tayyip Erdogan memberi amaran langkah-langkah balas. Penunjuk perasaan melaungkan slogan-slogan anti-kerajaan pada demonstrasi di Istanbul selepas seminggu yang menyaksikan bantahan terhadap perobohan Taksim Gezi Park di Taksim Square diperhebatkan.

Perdana Menteri Turki, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, menghadapi cabaran yang paling besar kepada pemerintahan 10 tahun beliau pada hujung minggu ini sebagai sebahagian daripada Istanbul bertukar menjadi zon perang.

Pertempuran berlaku antara polis rusuhan dan beribu-ribu penunjuk perasaan marah pada sambutan yang berat tangan pihak berkuasa kepada bantahan alam sekitar pada hari Jumaat.

Letusan kecewa dengan kerajaan Erdogan telah merebak ke sedozen bandar-bandar Turki semalaman dan penyokong berkumpul di seluruh DUNIA  Boston, London, Barcelona dan Amsterdam untuk menyuarakan perpaduan dengan penunjuk perasaan.

Demonstrators have claimed victory following weekend of violent clashes with police, but Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns of retaliatory measures. Protesters chanted anti-government slogans at a demonstration in Istanbul after a week that saw protests against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park in Taksim Square intensify. 

Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was facing the biggest challenge to his 10-year rule this weekend as parts of Istanbul turned into a war zone.

Violent clashes took place between riot police and tens of thousands of demonstrators outraged at the heavy-handed response of authorities to an environmental protest on Friday.

The eruption of frustration with Erdogan's government has spread to a dozen other Turkish cities overnight and supporters gathered worldwide in Boston, London, Barcelona and Amsterdam to voice solidarity with the protesters.