Turkish police clash with protesters over park development
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
Clashes escalated in Istanbul on Friday (May 31) as riot police fought to disperse a crowd protesting over the planned development of a local park.
The protesters had spent three days camping in the Taksim Gezi park before being forced out by police in the early hours of Friday morning.
When the protesters regrouped in a nearby square and tried to re-enter the park, police used a water cannon and smoke bombs to disperse them.
The demonstrators say they object to plans to build a shopping mall and housing units on the site.
They say it is the last green space in Turkey's largest city.
Despite the protests, the Turkish government has vowed to go ahead with the construction plan.
Clashes escalated in Istanbul on Friday (May 31) as riot police fought to disperse a crowd protesting over the planned development of a local park.
The protesters had spent three days camping in the Taksim Gezi park before being forced out by police in the early hours of Friday morning.
When the protesters regrouped in a nearby square and tried to re-enter the park, police used a water cannon and smoke bombs to disperse them.
The demonstrators say they object to plans to build a shopping mall and housing units on the site.
They say it is the last green space in Turkey's largest city.
Despite the protests, the Turkish government has vowed to go ahead with the construction plan.