Two protesters have died from the injuries they received during the protests.
According to the group of doctors who are keeping track of injuries 4,177 have been injured, the total number still hospitalized was not given but 43 are in serious or critical condition, and 10 have lost an eye. Update: One police officer was seriously injured tonight when he fell 5 m (~16 feet) off a bridge while chasing protesters.
The government has released conflicting numbers as to how many protesters have been arrested and how many are still in custody. Arrests are in the thousands but it seems that the number still in custody is in the low hundreds.
Today is an important day for Muslims, Miraç Kandili in Turkish, and protests have been quiet as a result.
Several unions are on strike today and tomorrow so there were very large protests in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. There were also smaller protests in many other cities and towns. Only a few reports of clashes, usually minor, were reported today.
Protests are continuing tonight and are expected to be peaceful.
The number of people arrested for Tweets has risen to 34 but reportedly the prosecutor has ordered that they be released after their statements are taken.
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Representatives of the protesters, who are using the name the Taksim Solidarity Platform, had a meeting today with the Deputy Prime Minister and presented their position. It has seven main points.
- Gezi Park will remain a park and the construction project has to be officially canceled.
- No efforts will be undertaken to tear down the Ataturk Cultural Center.
- Those responsible for trying to prevent the protests and for using excessive force have to be removed from their positions.
- The use of tear gas and similar materials has to be forbidden.
- Those still in custody have to be released immediately and no charges will be filed against those arrested.
- Taksim Square in Istanbul, Kızılay Square in Ankara, and other squares around the country have to be open for meetings and demonstrations.
- The views of the protesters and the people in general have to be acknowledged by the government.
The government's response will be given after the PM returns to Turkey tomorrow evening.
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The US State Department has issued an emergency travel alert for Turkey.
This along with statements made by the Obama administration have upset the Turkish government and the Turkish Foreign Minister called SoS Kerry today to protest the statements and the travel alert. The media are reporting that he has told Kerry that Turkey was not a 2nd class democracy.
I heard one commentator say, when he heard this, "Then don't act like one."
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Tomorrow Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan will return to Turkey. His behavior and statements will determine how things develop.
There are reports in the media that top government officials are stunned that the people of Turkey, the media in Turkey and other countries, and the governments of other countries are not praising them for all the good they have done.
In the next few days it will be clear as to whether or not the people of Turkey believe, trust, support or fear the government.
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The State Department's emergency travel alert:
http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov/...