ANKARA, Turkey - A crowd of some 100,000 supporters rallied in support of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in one of his main strongholds near Ankara [June 15] in a show of force amid unprecedented street protests opposing his rule. Outside the venue, however, many watched with apprehension and some even pledged to never vote for him again.
Greeted as “the master of masters” and “a world leader,” Erdogan issued a final warning to protesters occupying Gezi Park in Istanbul to evacuate the place. Only hours later, police launched a violent clampdown on the encampment.