Police use water cannon and teargas to disperse protesters, whom prime minister described as 'extremists running wild'

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Violent clashes between police and protesters have continued for a second day in Turkey, as the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, condemned the demonstrators as "extremists running wild".

In Istanbul, police used water cannon and teargas on thousands of protesters who marched from the east to the west side of the city over the Bosphorus bridge to join the demonstrations.

Police also used teargas to disperse protesters in Gezi park in Istanbul's Taksim Square, where the unrest began on Friday with a peaceful protest against the devleopment of a shopping centre on the Ottoman site.

The demonstration escalated as anger mounted at violent police tactics and turned into a wider protest against Erdogan, who is seen as becoming increasingly authoritarian.

The Nationalist Movement party (MHP) held a press conferenceon Saturday in the square, with members calling for the prime minister to to step down.

Erdogan called for an immediate end to the protests and vowed to push ahead with the redevelopment in Taksim Square. He also said order would be restored "to ensure the safety of people and their property".

"Police were there [in Taksim Square] yesterday. They'll be on duty today and also tomorrow because Taksim Square cannot be an area where extremists are running wild," he said.

There is resentment in secular circles towards Erdogan's broadly Islamic government and towards the prime minister himself, who is known for his abrasive style and intolerance of criticism.

Protests have spread to other Turkish cities, including the capital Ankara, where thousands again gathered on Saturday.

In Ankara, thousands gathered at a small park and moved into a popular shopping street.

Many were seen drinking in the street in protest at a new law passed last week restricting the sale and advertisement of alcoholic drinks, a moved that alarmed secularists. Police broke up groups that tried to march toward the parliament building, a few hundred metres away.

The Turkish Doctors' Association said nearly 1,000 people had been injured in Istanbul on Friday, including six who lost eyes after being hit by gas canisters.

Ozturk Turkdogan, the head of the Turkish Human Rights Association, said hundreds of people in several cities had been injured in the police crackdown and a few hundred people had been arrested. The Dogan news agency said 81 demonstrators were detained in Istanbul.

Turkish police have previously been accused of excessive use of teargas and violence to stop demonstrations, including at this year's May Day rally.

Turkdogan said: "The use of gas at such proportions is unacceptable. It is a danger to public health and as such is a crime. Unfortunately, there isn't a prosecutor brave enough to stand up to police. The people are standing up against Erdogan who is trying to monopolise power and is meddling in all aspects of life."

The Foreign Office has advised British tourists to avoid anti-government demonstrations in Turkey. "Demonstrations are taking place in Istanbul and in other cities across Turkey, including Ankara. Police are using tear gas and water cannons in response. We advise British nationals to avoid all demonstrations," the Foreign Office's website advises.

The Association of British Travel Agents said approximately 15,000 holidaymakers from the UK would have been in Turkey over the past week during the half-term break, but that many would be returning this weekend.

Most tourists go to seaside resorts. The association spokeswoman said: "The vast majority of people travelling to Turkey shouldn't be affected, but if people are in Istanbul they should avoid central areas where the demonstrations are happening."

• This article was amended on 26 June 2013. The original referred to the Bosphorus river bridge. That should have been the Bosphorus bridge, and has been corrected.