Riot police have used tear gas and water cannons to force anti-government protesters out of Istanbul’s Gezi Park.
The police moved in on the evening of June 15 after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave an ultimatum to protesters to end their occupation of the park.
After protesters fled, bulldozers and cleaning crews arrived to clear the area of tents and barricades.
The protesters had remained in the park, even after officials offered assurances that the government has suspended its plan to cut down trees in the park to enable construction there.
Officials say the government will await a court ruling on the legality of the redevelopment plan, as well as hold a referendum on the question, before taking action.
The past two weeks of protests have marked the biggest unrest in Turkey in decades.
The police moved in on the evening of June 15 after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave an ultimatum to protesters to end their occupation of the park.
After protesters fled, bulldozers and cleaning crews arrived to clear the area of tents and barricades.
The protesters had remained in the park, even after officials offered assurances that the government has suspended its plan to cut down trees in the park to enable construction there.
Officials say the government will await a court ruling on the legality of the redevelopment plan, as well as hold a referendum on the question, before taking action.
The past two weeks of protests have marked the biggest unrest in Turkey in decades.