当前位置: Language Tips> 新闻播报

Protesters occupy Istanbul public square

中国日报网 2013-06-03 10:15

分享到

 

Get Flash Player

Download

Hundreds of people were occupying Istanbul's Taksim Square on Sunday, the epicenter of the worst demonstrations in a decade against Turkey's Islamist-rooted government which has seen almost 1,700 people detained and scores wounded nationwide.

Some protesters camped around the square's monument to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern secular Turkey, occasionally chanting "Government, resign!" and victory cheers after the riot police withdrew on Saturday.

Shopkeepers and municipal workers began cleaning the streets of Istanbul and Ankara on Sunday after the demonstrations.

Pockets of die-hard demonstrators lit bonfires and scuffled with police overnight but the streets were much quieter.

The unrest was triggered by protests against government plans to build a replica Ottoman-era barracks to house shops or apartments in Taksim, long a venue for political demonstrations.

But it has widened into a broader show of defiance against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party.

Taksim has been at the heart of a wave of more than 90 demonstrations in 48 cities nation wide, the biggest public outcry against Erdogan's government since it assumed power in 2002.

Officials said 53 civilians and 26 police officers were hurt during the violence, while observers put the number of wounded in the hundreds and said there had been two deaths.

Interior Minister Muammer Guler said police had detained 1,700 people as of Saturday evening, but many have been released.

Turkey's Western allies Britain, France and the United States have called for the Erdogan government to exercise restraint, while Turkish officials acknowledged mistakes.

"We have learned our lesson," Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas told NTV on Saturday.

He said he regretted "not informing the people enough" on the details of the construction project in Taksim, the spark that led to the protests.

Speaking at a rally on Saturday, Erdogan acknowledged: "It is true that there have been some mistakes, extremism in the police response."

But he added: "I call on the protesters to stop their demonstrations immediately."

He also vowed to push forward with controversial plans to redevelop the square, but said the project may not include a shopping mall, as feared by protesters.

The Interior Ministry promised legal action against police officers who had acted" disproportionately".

President Abdullah Gul had called on Saturday for restraint on both sides.

Questions:

1. Where in Istanbul is the epicenter of the demonstrations?

2. Who is the Prime Minister of Turkey?

3. As of Saturday, how many people had been detained?

Answers:

1. Taksim Square.

2. Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

3. 1,700.

(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)

Protesters occupy Istanbul public square

About the broadcaster:

Protesters occupy Istanbul public square

Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.

 

分享到

中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883561联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。

中国日报网双语新闻

扫描左侧二维码

添加Chinadaily_Mobile
你想看的我们这儿都有!

中国日报双语手机报

点击左侧图标查看订阅方式

中国首份双语手机报
学英语看资讯一个都不能少!

关注和订阅

本文相关阅读
人气排行
热搜词
 
精华栏目
 

阅读

词汇

视听

翻译

口语

合作

 

关于我们 | 联系方式 | 招聘信息

Copyright by chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved. None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 版权声明:本网站所刊登的中国日报网英语点津内容,版权属中国日报网所有,未经协议授权,禁止下载使用。 欢迎愿意与本网站合作的单位或个人与我们联系。

电话:8610-84883645

传真:8610-84883500

Email: languagetips@chinadaily.com.cn