Large demonstrations have been held around Taksim Square in Istanbul since May 31, protesting at plans to convert the square's Gezi Park into a shopping mall.
Violent clashes took place each day with police. At the same time, news of the protest spread through social networks and opposition parties, and has become a challenge to the power of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to Turkish daily Taraf –
The prime minister has not understood that people from all walks of life are in the street to say: ‘We don't want anything imposed on us.’
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