Turkish Trade Unions Take to the Streets

Turkey's largest trade unions have decided to take to the streets in Ankara, Istanbul and other cities on June 5 with hundreds of thousands of people demanding punishment of those responsible for using excessive force against protesters and to end the use of tear gas. Thus, the trade unions have expressed their solidarity with the opposition who has conducted street protests since June 1.

Last night, street protests continued, although in general the passions have subsided somewhat. In the morning, the demonstrators began to gather again at the Taksim Square in Istanbul, where the first protests began in response to the government's decision to build a shopping center.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc apologized to victims of the protests and called citizens actions,"just and legitimate." But Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan still considers the action "undemocratic." But, at the same time, he promised to solve the problem after he returns to Turkey at the end of an official tour to North African countries.

Turkish authorities estimate the damage from five days of protests in the $ 40 million range. During the clashes more than three thousand people have suffered, including two deaths. -0 –