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Turkey's Army Could Be Used Against Protesters, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc Says

Deputy PM: Turkey Could Use Army Against Protesters
Reuters
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Turkish soldiers wait at the entrance of Bosphorus bridge on Anatolian side in Istanbul, on June 16, 2013. Police fired tear gas and jets of water to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in Istanbul's Taksim Square, shortly after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned police would intervene to end protesters' occupation of a park bordering the square. Turkish protesters today had refused to budge from an Istanbul park at the centre of nationwide anti-government demonstrations after rejecting a government olive branch aimed at ending two weeks of deadly unrest. AFP PHOTO/BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)

ANKARA, June 17 (Reuters) - Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said on Monday Turkey could deploy "elements of the armed forces" to help quell anti-government protests if needed, after more than two weeks of violent demonstrations in several cities.

"Our police, our security forces are doing their jobs. If it's not enough then the gendarmes will do their jobs. If that's not enough ... we could even use elements of the Turkish Armed Forces," Arinc told Turkey's state-run TRT television. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Ayla Jean Yackley)

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Before You Go

#OccupyGezi Protests
(01 of11)
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A man falls as riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(02 of11)
Open Image Modal
An injured man reacts as riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(03 of11)
Open Image Modal
Riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(04 of11)
Open Image Modal
Protesters react as riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(05 of11)
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In this Thursday, May 30, 2013 photo, a man seen wearing a make-shift gas-mask hours before riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim, injuring a number of protesters. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(06 of11)
Open Image Modal
In this Thursday, May 30, 2013 photo, People seen during a peaceful demonstration, staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim, injuring a number of protesters. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(07 of11)
Open Image Modal
A woman protects herself as riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(08 of11)
Open Image Modal
Women try to protect themselves as riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to quash a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of people staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(09 of11)
Open Image Modal
A man helps an injured woman as riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to disperse protesters staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(10 of11)
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Riot police use water cannon to disperse protesters staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
(11 of11)
Open Image Modal
Riot police use tear gas and pressurized water to disperse protesters staging a sit-in protest to try and prevent the demolition of trees at an Istanbul park, Turkey, Friday, May 31, 2013. A number of protesters were injured. Police moved in at dawn Friday to disperse the crowd on the fourth day of the protest against a contentious government plan to revamp Istanbuls main square, Taksim. The protesters are demanding that the squares park, Gezi, is protected. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
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