Turkey gives mixed signals over protests as police arrest 25, Deputy PM takes conciliatory tone

ANKARA, Turkey Turkey's state-run news agency said Wednesday that police had detained 25 people for "spreading untrue information" on social media and provoking protests.

The Anadolu agency said the people were detained in the city of Izmir for allegedly "inciting the people to enmity and hate." It said police were still looking for 13 others.

Turkey's main broadcast media have been criticized for minimal coverage of alleged police brutality against protesters at demonstrations in Istanbul and across the country. Many people have turned to social media to keep up to date with the developments.

• Turkey Deputy PM apologizes for police crackdown
• U.S. voices concern over Turkish unrest
• Syria warns citizens against travel to Turkey

Tens of thousands of mostly secular-minded Turks have joined anti-government rallies since Friday, when police launched a pre-dawn raid against a peaceful sit-in protesting plans to uproot trees in Istanbul's main Taksim Square. Since then, the demonstrations have spiraled into Turkey's biggest anti-government disturbances in years, with anger focused squarely on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.



Protests have been directed at what critics say is Erdogan's aggressive and authoritarian style of governing. Many accuse him of forcing his conservative religious outlook on citizens' lives in this mainly Muslim, but secular nation. Erdogan rejects the accusations and says he respects all lifestyles.

Erdogan has dismissed the protests as demonstrations organized by an extremist fringe, and has referred to the social media as "the worst menace to society."

In Washington, however, a close ally of Erdogan said Tuesday that his government respects the right to non-violent protest and free speech, but that it must also protect its citizens against violence.

At an event with Vice President Joe Biden, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan was mostly conciliatory about the thousands of protesters in Turkey who have been expressing discontent with Erdogan's 10-year rule. But he also implied -- without citing evidence -- that some were provoking violence for political ends.

"We should be very careful when we evaluate the recent ongoing events in Turkey," he said. "There is a need for a strict distinction between the terrorist groups or illegal organizations versus citizens who are purely protesting on a non-violent basis."

Babacan's comments followed an apology Tuesday by fellow Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, who called the crackdown on protesters "wrong and unjust."

Speaking before Babacan at the American-Turkish Council's annual conference, Biden said that only Turks can solve the problems behind the protests, but that the U.S. is concerned and isn't indifferent to the outcome.

"It raises concerns around the world, including in our own country," he said.

Biden said the U.S. supports free assembly, a free press and nonviolence by government and demonstrators. He said Turkey should not choose between democracy and economic progress.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department issued an alert to U.S. citizens in or traveling to Turkey, cautioning that U.S. citizens have been injured or detained amid the violence.

"U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security," the statement from the State Department read. It cited violence in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, and Mersin, among other Turkish cities.