Police disperse Turkish protesters in Istanbul

Turkish police fired teargas and watercannon to disperse protesters in a central Istanbul today as they gathered to enter a park that was the centre of recent anti-government protests.

The Taksim Solidarity Platform, had called for a march to enter the sealed off Gezi park, but the governor of Istanbul warned against any such gathering.

Last month, a crackdown on a group protesting against the planned redevelopment of the park triggered a nationwide wave of protest last month against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Erdogan accused by his critics of becoming increasingly authoritarian after a decade in power.