Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to meet with park protesters in the wake of a week of rallies that have turned violent, sending tear-gas-toting police to quell out-of-control crowds.
The latest clash occurred Wednesday morning in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, where police again fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, The Associated Press reported.
The protesters were originally rallying against the development of a shopping mall that would have torn down a popular recreational park. But the message expanded, and protesters are now rallying against Mr. Erdogan’s government.
Mr. Erdogan, meanwhile, has warned he will stop the rallies. They’re hurting the nation’s economy, he says in the AP report.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the meeting is taking place at the request of the leaders of the protest movement, Gezi Park Platform, Reuters said. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, he said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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