Gezi Park to be opened to people soon, governor says

Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu has said Taksim's Gezi Park, which has been closed for almost two weeks since police cleared the park of protesters who had been camping there, will be opened within a few days after the municipality has completed its work. Gezi Park has been closed for almost two weeks. When the government began to implement a redevelopment plan at Gezi Park in late May, protesters staged demonstrations at the park and later across the country. After bitter clashes with police, protesters occupied the park for two weeks. The government ordered the police to clear the park when negotiations over the withdrawal of the camping protesters failed to bring a result on June 15. Mutlu said the public will be able to go to the park in coming days.