A protester with a Guy Fawkes mask clashes with riot police during an anti-government protest in central Istanbul June 1, 2013. Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannon for a second day on Saturday to prevent hundreds of protesters reaching the central Taksim Square, scene of violent protests in which hundreds were injured on Friday. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan made a defiant call for an end to the fiercest anti-government demonstrations in years on Saturday as authorities arrested almost a thousand people in protests across the country.
Riot police backed by armoured vehicles and helicopters fired tear gas and water cannons in Istanbul and Ankara for a second day. Interior Minister Muammer Guler said 939 arrests had been made in more than 90 separate demonstrations.
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