Turkish PM Puts Mall Plan on Hold, Calls to End Protests amid Friday Prayers
Local Editor
Thousands of Turks took to the streets on Saturday to protests against the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government amidst calls to end the turmoil.
Protesters began arriving in Istanbul's Taksim Square in the morning with food and blankets to settle in for a weekend of protests.
"A week ago, I could never imagine myself sleeping out on the streets of Istanbul," said 22-year old Aleyna. "Now I don't know how I can ever go back."
Fresh demonstrations were also planned in the capital Ankara.
"Our motto is: let's bring down the government and build a shopping mall in its place," said 24-year old Ali.
For his part, PM Erdogan called for an immediate end of protests, saying he was open to "democratic demands" while dismissing plans to build a shopping mall at the controversial Gezi Park during his speech at the Ministry of European Affairs Istanbul conference on Friday.
He further accused that the European Union was also at fault in supporting such demonstrations.
Thousands flocked to the airport on Friday to greet Erdoğan as a sign of solidarity.
"Let us go, let us crush them," they shouted, referring to the Taksim protesters.
Moreover, a group calling themselves "Anti-capitalist Muslims" performed their first Friday prayers all together while other protesters "stood guard" against any kind of provocation in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
Source: News Agencies, edited by website team
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