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In Pictures: The battle for Taksim Square

Demonstrations escalate as protesters respond to police tear gas with petrol bombs and Molotov cocktails.

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Plain clothes policemen help a tourist to get away from tear gas as Turkish police raid Taksim Square this morning. Since the protests began, a once healthy tourism industry is now at a standstill.
By Oren Ziv
Published On 11 Jun 2013

Istanbul, Turkey – Turkish police raided Taksim Square early this morning and reportedly evicted all protesters demonstrating in the area. 

In less than half an hour, police tore down barricades and occupied the centre of the square. Clashes broke as police shot tear gas, rubber bullets, while protesters responded with stones, petrol bombs and Molotov cocktails.

Several protesters were understood to be injured from tear gas inhalation, as police shot gas cannisters towards the central camp in Gezi park.

As of early afternoon, clashes were still taking place and the police had moved on to patrolling Gezi park.

Anti-government protesters run as police raid Taksim Square. Control of the square has swapped back and forth between the demonstrators and police. After the police retook the square, members of the Taksim Solidarity Platform called on protesters to gather there again this evening.
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Anti-government protesters hold hands as police target them with a water cannon. The governor of Istanbul tweeted that police in Taksim Square were only there to remove banners and placards.
According to Global News Insight(***)s Emre Rende, police were saying: "Stop throwing stones, stop throwing bottles and we will stop the teargas."
A protester gets knocked down by a water cannon as police advance to Gezi park. Tents were not taken down, but police did patrol the park. Turkish officials said the camp itself would not be evicted.
Protesters throw stones at police as authorities attempt to enter Gezi park. The protests have pitted Western-oriented youth with socially conservative officials. 
A protester uses a slingshot to hurl stones at police. They were also seen using petrol bombs and Molotov cocktails. 
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Protesters throw stones at police vehicles as debris litters the ground. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the protesters to end the demonstrations, warning "or else I will have to speak the language you understand. Patience has an end to it".
A protester on fire after he threw a Molotov cocktail at a police vehicle. Three people have died since the beginning of the crackdown on the protests.
Protesters take cover from tear gas canisters. Policy initiatives, such as crackdowns on the internet, and prohibition of alcohol sales during certain hours have angered many people. But it was the proposed urban development project in Gezi park that initially sparked the unrest.  
A police water cannon truck burns after it being hit by a Molotov cocktail. The demonstrations have becoming increasingly violent. 
Municipality workers clean the area around the monument in Taksim Square. The city has endured much damage, with shops, restaurants and offices around the area remaining closed.

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