German FM says Turkish government sending wrong message with its response to e protests

YEREVAN, June 12. / ARKA /. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has urged the Turkish government to alter its strategy after its most recent crackdown on protesters. He said images of overnight clashes were disturbing, RBC reported citing Reuters.

Westerwelle said on Wednesday that the Turkish government was sending the wrong message at home and abroad with its response to demonstrations. His comments came in response to overnight clashes in Istanbul, which saw police and demonstrators fighting running battles in the city's Taksim Square. Tear gas and water cannons were used, with protesters throwing missiles including Molotov cocktails.

"The images from Taksim Square are disturbing," Westerwelle said in a statement calling upon Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to change direction. 

"The Turkish government is sending the wrong message to the country and to Europe with its response to date to the protests," he said, adding that Ankara must do "all in its power" to protect democratic rights.

"We expect Prime Minister Erdogan to de-escalate the situation in the spirit of European values and initiate constructive exchange and peaceful dialogue," Westerwelle said. 

Protests in Taksim Square in Istanbul began almost two weeks ago with peaceful environmental protests by people who said they were opposing a government plan to turn a park into a mall development. Since then the protests spread across the country and to the capital, Ankara, with police using water cannon and tear gas and protesters throwing Molotov cocktails and fireworks. -0-