Turkey Occupied: Anti-government protesters demonstrate in central Ankara, the Turkish capital. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused the protesters on Monday of 'walking arm-in-arm with terrorism. Not a very smart move.
The Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK), which represents some 240,000 workers, started a two-day strike from Tuesday in support of the protests.
The left-wing union has accused the government of committing "state terror."
"The state terror implemented against entirely peaceful protests is continuing in a way that threatens civilians' life safety," the KESK said in a statement, adding that the crackdown shows the government's "enmity to democracy."
The action will likely affect schools, universities and public offices across Turkey.
At least three people have been killed and more than a thousand injured since the beginning of anti-government protests in Turkey on May 31. Authorities say over 2,000 people have been also detained.
The mass nationwide anti-government protests began after security forces attacked a peaceful four-day sit-in by environmental activists against the demolition of Gezi Park in Istanbul's Taksim Square on Friday. Protesters have called for the resignation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The protesters condemned the Turkish government as a "fascist government" and called Erdogan a new "Sultan."
Meanwhile, Turkey's Deputy PM Bulent Arinc has apologized to protesters injured in demonstrations opposing the demolition of Gezi Park, saying the demonstrations against the demolition of the park were "just and legitimate."
"The use of excessive force shown against the people who initially started this protest with the motive of protecting the environment was wrong. And it was unfair. So I apologize to those citizens," Arinc said at a news conference in Ankara.
Was that a 'trial balloon' by the Deputy PM? Throw the abused dog a bone and see if it goes away with its potential rabies? At the same time the PM ridicules the dog and hints at the desire to kick it some more? Seems like the usual 'good cop-bad cop' routine, must be Mr. G from NYC advising them in crowd control. Is this when Al Ciada is brought in for training and advice like in Iran under Shah2? And who might be waiting in the wings to step in as savior? This plan didn't work so well in Egypt, so perhaps a rewrite is needed? Perhaps this is where the 'terrorists' are brought in to 'calm the crowd'? For Mr E, better them than the military in the short run and no script is long these days as all eyes turn to the troops next.