Recep Tayyip Erdogan tells reporters in Tunis that government will continue with plan to overhaul park despite protests.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his government will go ahead with controversial plans to overhaul a small park in central Istanbul, despite mass protests against the redevelopment in Taksim square.
Speaking to reporters in Tunis after a meeting with his Tunisian counterpart on Thursday, Erdogan said groups accused of responsibility for previous violent attacks were manipulating what had started as an environmental protest and that a number of foreigners had been arrested.
Turkish assets weakened on Thursday after Erdogan made the announcement.
The main Istanbul share index fell 4.24 percent by 1234 GMT, while the lira weakened to 1.8914 against the dollar following Erdogan's comments.