According to BBC News, activists handed Bulent Arinc, Turkey’s deputy prime minister, a list of demands which included the call for the dismissals. Arinc, who apologized Tuesday for the use of excessive force by police, is currently standing in for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is away on an overseas trip.
Sky News reports that the list of demands also included items such as banning the use of tear gas by police, freeing all detained prisoners, lifting freedom of expression and assembly restrictions as well as a halt to redevelopment plans for Taksim Square.
The country has seen nearly a week of unrest since police began to clash with demonstrators. What started as a peaceful protest over plans to build a mall in an Istanbul park quickly escalated into waves of anti-government protests across the country.
The ongoing furor is shaking the confidence of many of Turkey’s allies, the Star wrote. The US and other western countries have publicly condemned the attacks.
White House spokesperson Jay Carney welcomed Arinc’s apology, however, saying the Turkish government should respond “in a way that respects the rights of free speech and assembly that are elemental to democracies.”
