英语文摘:Turkish riot police fire tear gas to disperse protesters, violence erupts

The police movement came one day ahead of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's planned meeting with protest organizers.

Earlier, Erdogan called on protesters across the country to withdraw from the streets, saying the wave of anti-government demonstrations was part of a deliberate attempt to damage Turkey's image and economy.

"Violent actions that took place in many cities of Turkey have camouflaged themselves behind the Gezi Park protests," Erdogan said at his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday.

"I request all activists to understand the plot and withdraw from the streets," he said.

The demonstrations in Turkey started as a small sit-in over plans to bulldoze Gezi Park -- the last green space in central Istanbul -- and replace it with a shopping mall. It later turned into a protest movement across the political spectrum of the whole country.

Demonstrators have demanded Erdogan's resignation, which is regarded as the biggest challenge for Erdogan and his ruling AKP during their decade rule.