Turkey’s ‘occupied’ Taksim starts calm new day

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

Istanbul’s Taksim Square and Gezi Park started a calm day on the 16th day of unrest shaking Turkey. DHA photo

Istanbul’s Taksim Square and Gezi Park started a calm rainy day after last night’s fierce clashes between police and protesters on the 16th day of unrest shaking Turkey.

Istanbul Gov. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu and Istanbul Police Chief Hüseyin Çapkın visited the square last night after the police took partial control following a harsh crackdown on protesters two times that day.

The police officers played football in the square as protestors built new barricades to protect the remaining occupation area in Gezi Park, Anatolia news agency reported.

Dozens of police officers stood guard near the Atatürk Cultural Center and around the Atatürk statue.

Mutlu posted on Twitter that he was on duty in the square and extended his gratitude to police officers.

Then Mutlu participated in a live interview with CNNTürk from the square and called on “parents” to take their children back home.