Thousands of anti-Erdogan protesters regroup in Taksim Square

After a brief lull, up to 30,000 protesters returned to Istanbul’s Takzim Park Square Sunday evening on the third day of demonstrations against the replacement of the park by a shopping center. Since Friday, the protest has widened out into an outpouring of anger in 48 Turkish cities against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. Hundreds of protesters were arrested. Erdogan blamed the opposition for stirring up dissent. In Ankara police used tear gas and clashed with hundreds of protesters blocking traffic.  Amnesty and the US and British government have criticized Turkey for the excessive use by police of tear gas causing hundreds of injuries and leaving some protesters blinded. Amnesty reported two deaths.