Violent protests must end now, says Turkey PM

Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today told supporters that the violent protests that have engulfed the country must end.

In the first extensive public show of support since the anti-government demonstrations erupted last Friday, more than 10,000 supporters greeted him as he returned to Istanbul after a four-day trip to North Africa.

Despite earlier comments that suggested he could be softening his stand, Mr Erdogan delivered a fiery speech. “These protests that are bordering on illegality must come to an end as of now,” he said. He was almost drowned out by his supporters as they chanted “God is great,” “Let us go, let us smash them”.

Tens of thousands have joined demonstrations that were sparked by a violent police reaction to what started out as a small protest against a plan to develop Istanbul’s central Taksim Square. Since then, three people have died — two protesters and a policeman — and 4,300 have been injured.

Mr Erdogan had initially referred to the protesters as looters and troublemakers, while also acknowledging that excessive police force might have been used. Earlier in Tunisia, he suggested that terrorist groups were involved and also implied that bankers were part of a conspiracy.

He said in his speech, delivered from an open-top bus outside the airport terminal: “They say I am the prime minister of only 50 per cent.

It’s not true. We have served the whole of the 76 million from the east to the west,” referring to his election win in 2011. “We have never been for building tension and polarisation. But we cannot applaud brutality.”