Sounding remarkably like his adversary Bashar al-Assad in neighbouring Syria, Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued another threat to the Taksim Square/Gezi Park protesters at the end of a long, ranting speech to some 50,000-60,000 of his supporters at a rally in Ankara today. The protesters must clear the square by tomorrow, Sunday, when he is to address another AKP rally there, he said, or the police will clear it for them.
The question asked by some observers now is why Erdogan is apparently provoking an open confrontation in this direct and polarizing way.
A Twitter hashtag has started - #1MilyonYarinTaksime - One Million to Taksim. It's already trending, together with #turkey.
Police are now attacking people on the Square with water cannons and teargas. They also appear to be sweeping the Park. http://rt.com/on-air/istanbul-protest-tear-gas/
Woman are banging pots and pans in side streets: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/yomgashum1
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