Turkey protesters demand dismissal of police chiefs

Activists in Turkey have demanded the sacking of police chiefs in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities over their forces' violent responses to protests. They also rejected an apology by Deputy PM Bulent Arinc, saying his remarks "were reminiscent of a civil war". http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/67990000/jpg/_67990776_169925171.jpg A group calling itself the Taksim Solidarity Platform (TSP) said it had handed a list of demands to Mr Arinc. The crackdown on protests over the redevelopment of a park in Istanbul last week triggered nationwide unrest. Overnight, police in Istanbul again fired tear gas, water cannon and smoke grenades at protesters. The demands presented by the Taksim Solidarity Platform on Wednesday included a ban on the use of tear gas, the release of detained protesters, and the scrapping of the plans for the redevelopment of Gezi Park, which is part of Istanbul's Taksim Square. "The steps the government takes will shape the events," the TSP said after their meeting with Mr Arinc on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the deputy prime minister apologised to demonstrators who had been injured. He said the original protests had been "just and legitimate" and that the "excessive use of force" by police had been wrong. Officials have confirmed that two people have been killed in the unrest. One man died after being shot by an unidentified gunman in the southern city of Antakya. Another died after being hit by a car that ploughed into a crowd in Istanbul.