Turkey prepares for fourth day of anti-government protests

Turkey is on edge as authorities are bracing for a fourth day of fierce anti-government protests in major cities to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Protesters are converging on Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square to express their discontent with the government for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

On Sunday, thousands of protesters marched on Erdogan’s office in Ankara, shouting “Dictator, resign!” and “We will resist until we win,” and clashing with the riot police that responded with tear gas.

Meanwhile, Erdogan has remained defiant, denying accusations that he has been acting like a dictator.

He has also rejected any possibility of an uprising in Turkey, arguing that these protesters do not represent the entire Turkish society.

Protests erupted in Istanbul on Friday after security forces attacked a peaceful four-day sit-in by environmental activists against the demolition of Gezi Park at Taksim Square.

Activists say Gezi Park, which is a traditional gathering point for rallies and demonstrations as well as a popular tourist destination, is the city’s last public green space.

The tough police response to park protesters sparked mass anti-government demonstrations in nearly 50 other cities.

The harsh police response has drawn international condemnation with EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton condemning Turkish police for using disproportionate force against demonstrators.

The White House has also called on Turkish security forces to exercise restraint in dealing with the protests, saying public demonstrations are part of the democratic expression.

Turkey Interior Minister Muammer Guler said on Sunday that more than 1,700 people had been arrested, adding that 58 civilians and 115 security officers had also been injured in the protests. Rights groups, however, have put the number of injured in the hundreds.