Turkish protesters poured back onto the streets Tuesday in defiance of their government's plea to end days of deadly unrest, the biggest challenge yet to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decade-long rule. Erdogan's government won praise from the United States for apologising to protesters injured in the violence but the move did not appear to stem popular anger.
Protesters accuse Erdogan of imposing conservative Islamic reforms on the predominantly Muslim but constitutionally secular nation. Bellowing, whistling crowds flooded Istanbul's Taksim Square for a fifth night running, yelling defiance at Erdogan, who earlier dismissed protesters as "extremists" and "vandals". He was in Algeria on the second day of a four-day official trip to north Africa.
"The vandals are here! Where is Tayyip?" yelled the crowd. They repeated their charges that Erdogan, who has won three successive national elections, was imposing conservative Islamic reforms on the predominantly Muslim but constitutionally secular nation. "If they step back, if they change something in Turkey, the conservatism and the things they've done, then maybe the crowd can go home," said Didem Kul, a 24-year-old student on Taksim square. "But we can't go home without having a demonstration. And even if we go home, the feelings won't change."
Turkish pipe music and singing blared over speakers as the crowd clapped in a festive atmosphere that contrasted with the tense rallies of the past five days. Even fans from rival football teams Besiktas and Fenerbahce joined arms, united in protest. Thousands also rallied in the capital Ankara. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc earlier apologised to protesters who were injured as the clashes erupted last week when police tear-gassed demonstrators at a peaceful rally against a plan to build on a Istanbul park.