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Erdogan Returns to Crowds, Crisis in Turkey

Istanbul is on the threshold of a dangerous confrontation.
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L) waves to supporters after arriving at Istanbul's Ataturk airport early June 7, 2013. Erdogan called on Turks on Friday to distance themselves from lawless protests and said accusations of the excessive use of police force during days of unrest were being investigated. Addressing thousands of supporters at Istanbul airport after returning from a trip to North Africa, Erdogan said the protesters had looted shops and damaged businesses and urged his supporters not

On one side is the "liberated center” of Istanbul, the eminence of Turkey, a city, a true megalopolis, once the capital of two empires. Here is the Gezi Park of Taksim Square, where the most colorful “revolution” of Turkish history has erupted. Thousands of people live in the park night and day, in the midst of a never before witnessed carnival of freedom. An amazing diversity of Turkey’s people, from the religious who call themselves “anti-capitalist Muslims” to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) groups, from anarchists and leftists of all shades to ecologists, from veterinarians treating animals free of charge to human rights workers — all melded into one in an incredible display. In contrast to this peaceful and unprecedented unity are barricades erected at all the roads leading up to Taksim, at the highest point in Istanbul.

On the other side are tens of thousands of people who went after midnight to the international airport 20 km from the city to meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his return from a four-day trip to North Africa. Around 0200 hours, Erdogan, along with his wife and some of his ministers, climbed atop a bus and delivered a fiery speech that chilled his opponents and brought wild cheers from his partisans and shouts of “Let us go and crush Taksim," "Turkey is proud of you,” and more than anything else, “Ya Allah, Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.”

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