A group of activists involved in recent protests in Turkish cities met with Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc in Ankara on Wednesday and stated their demands, including the release of detained protesters.
The detailed list included the removal of the governors of Istanbul, Ankara (the capital), and Hatay, as well as the heads of security in these cities, according to the New York Times.
The activists further demanded the release of all detained demonstrators, an end to the use of tear gas by officers, and cancellation of the proposed plan that incited the originally peaceful protest.
Arinc is formally in charge of the government while Prime Minister Erdogan is on an official visit in North Africa, according to Reuters. However, much of protesters’ anger lies with Erdogan, whom they believe has exhibited authoritarian rule over Turkey.
The anti-government protests have been raging on in several Turkish cities since Friday. Two deaths have been confirmed, reports the New York Times.
Mehmet Ayvalitas, 20, died after a taxi ignored warnings to stop and drove through the group of protesters, hitting him.
In Antayka, a southern border town, at least one bullet fired from an armored police vehicle hit Abdullah Can Comert, 22, in the head.
Images: WikiCommons, Twitter
