ANKARA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said a referendum may be held on the future of Gezi Park in Istanbul's Taksim Square where activists have been camping to protest the government's plan to demolish it, a senior official said.
The ruling Justice and Development Party's Deputy Chairman Huseyin Celik made the announcement after Erdogan's five-hour meeting with representatives of the Gezi Park protests in the capital Ankara.
The government's move came after more than two weeks of nationwide anti-government protests in solidarity of the demonstrators at Gezi Park, which witnessed fierce clashes between police and protesters.
Celik said the referendum, if held, would only include the Gezi Park, not the nearby Ataturk Cultural Center, which may also be on the demolition list as part of a program to revamp Taksim Square.
"Those with bad intentions, seeking provocation and persisting in staying at the park will be facing the police," he warned.
ANKARA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on Wednesday urged President Abdullah Gul to convene a political leaders' summit to discuss the nationwide protests.
After a meeting of central executive board of CHP early Wednesday, the party's leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu called on President Gul to convene political party leaders to discuss the ongoing demonstrations. Full story
ANKARA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Tuesday detained more than 50 lawyers in Istanbul for joining the Gezi Park protests, which have been going on across the country for two weeks, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Full story
ANKARA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that his government has "no more tolerance " for the nationwide protests that have lasted over two weeks. Full story
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