Protesters refuse to leave Istanbul park

Turkish protesters have refused to leave a disputed park in Istanbul despite a government concession to halt a controversial redevelopment project that sparked anti-government protests across Turkey.

“We will continue our resistance in the face of any injustice and unfairness taking place in our country,” the Taksim Solidarity group, which representatives most of the protesters, said in a Saturday statement.

The group said that protest leaders made the decision after all-night discussions with campers in Gezi Park near the iconic Taksim Square. “This is only the beginning,” they said, dismissing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “last warning” to evacuate the park.

In the capital Ankara, police attacked protesters with teargas and water cannon, arresting 30 of them overnight.

On Friday, Erdogan renewed his call on anti-government demonstrators to end their protests.

Erdogan asked the protesters occupying Gezi Park to leave the area “by tonight.”

“I hope it will be over by tonight…. Please now leave the Gezi Park and go to your homes,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish premier went on to say that the message of the protesters has been heard.

“You have stayed here as long as you could and have relayed your message. If your message is about Taksim Gezi Park, it has been received and evaluated.”

The Taksim protesters say the issue is not just Gezi Park, adding that they will continue their protests against the ‘increasingly authoritarian style’ of Erdogan’s administration.

On Thursday, negotiations between Turkish prime minister and the representatives of anti-government protesters ended inconclusively.

The unrest in Turkey erupted after police broke up a sit-in staged at Taksim Square on May 31 to protest against a government plan for the redevelopment of Gezi Park.

The Turkish prime minister has faced international condemnation for his handling of the crisis. Turkish police have also been strongly criticized for using excessive force against the peaceful protests.

Five people, including a police officer, have reportedly died in the clashes and more than 5,000 protesters and 600 police officers have been wounded.