Posted on 06/03/2013 12:04:58 AM PDT by Nextrush
Turkish protestors have clashed with police in Istanbul overnight, in some of the worst violence since unrest erupted three days ago.
Protesters in Beskitas district tore up paving stones to build barricades, and police responded with tear gas and water cannon.
The violence was sparked by plans to build on a city park but have broadened into nationwide anti-government unrest.
Protesters say the Turkish government is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
They fear Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) is trying to impose conservative Islamic values on the officially secular country and infringe on their personal freedoms. correspondents say.
Officials say more than 1,700 people have been arrested in demonstrations in 67 towns and cities, though many have since been released.
Late on Sunday, the White House said in a statement that all parties should "calm the situation" and reaffirmed that peaceful demonstrations were "part of democratic expression."
The US previously criticized the security forces for their initial response to the protest.
Roads sealed off
Mosques, shops and a university in Besiktas were turned into makeshift hospitals for those injured in Sunday night's demonstration.
The BBC's Louise Greenwood in Istanbul says several thousand people took part in the protest outside the recently decommissioned Besiktas football stadium.
She says some of the protesters were coughing violently and vomiting after police fired gas canisters into the crowd.
According to the Turkish Doctors' Association, 484 protesters have been treated in hospitals in Istanbul since Friday.
Nearby, police were also battling to protect the prime minister's office which has become another focal point for the protesters.....
Unrest was also reported in the capital, Ankara, and the western coastal city of Izmir in the west, as well as Adana in the south and Gaziantep in the southeast....
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
A REVOLT AGAINST ISLAMISM.......
Three talking points not being discussed by the MSM surrounding this story.
1. THIS IS A REVOLT AGAINST AN ELECTED ISLAMIC 'MODERATE' MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD TYPE GOVERNMENT THAT HAS A CLOSE FRIEND NAMED PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
2. THIS IS A REVOLT AGAINST A GOVERNMENT THAT IS SUPPORTING THE REVOLT AGAINST ASSAD IN SYRIA
3. THIS IS A REVOLT AGAINST A GOVERNMENT THAT SUPPORTS HAMAS IN GAZA AND THE PALESTINIANS IN GENERAL AGAINST ISRAEL
Exactly right. So, where is the media reporting on this? (Crickets chirping)
Turkey will beat down the revolt with the help of the islamist in the WH.
Deus ex machina?
You may be right about that, but I still think Obama is a leftist who wants to hijack Islam and make it subservient to a left-wing agenda.
Obama is clearly best buddies with the Islamic regieme in Turkey who are his allies in dealing with Syria. This Erdogan guy has been agitating for the Palestinians against Israel as well.
But others aren’t happy with that like Iran and Russia.
Are their hands in this situation?????
...which side are we routing for here?
Uh...OK, I don't know which one that might be. Neither?
That’s a good one to ask.....
I see Erdogan as strongly anti-Israel as my talking points note and he is also an Islamist in slow motion.
A Brookings Institution wonk who is a Turk says there is no alternative to Erdogan, who is popular and would win an election if it were held today.
I don’t know if there is any side to root for here, but the talking points in Post #1 stand up as my “position” on the situation for now....
So right now, we have A Mosque set on fire, and a mass march against islam in the UK. We have angry Buddhists (let THAT sink in for a moment) attacking moslems in Burma for setting a woman on fire. We have Turks revolting aganist the islamism in Turkey. We have Israel announcing that the Palestinians had no intent to ever negotiate in good faith and that Israel is returning to building more west bank settlements.
I think there was always a limit to the tolerance they would be shown unless they knocked off their crap. The moslems have overplayed their hand, and the backlash is starting.
The politicians had better fall into line, or risk the same anger being directed at them.
Putin is likely to be behind this. The abundance of red banners with hammer and sickles confirms it to me.
Neither side.
I wonder if McCain will go and meet with some of the “freedom fighters”?
I’ll wait to see which side Obama really roots for and go against him. It’s the only way to be certain.
Israeli-Turkish trade is up lots. Not certain how much that affects the debate but it’s a fact and worthy of inclusion.
Erdogan has badly over reached and is now whining about how he is not appreciated. He hasn't long to go before he has to resign.
So every U.S. newscast will be leading with the “Turkish Spring,” right?
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