Massive protests continue in Turkey

Police fire tear gas as riot police spray water cannons at demonstrators who remained defiant after authorities evicted activists from an Istanbul park near Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, June 16, 2013.

Watch more: Mayhem in Istanbul hotel as protestors seek refuge

Anti-government protesters demonstrate in central Ankara, Turkey, June 17, 2013. Turkey warned today it may bring in the army to help quell nationwide anti-government protests after a weekend of heavy clashes between riot police and demonstrators.

A protestor tries to escape from tear gas in Istanbul, June 16, 2013. Police fired tear gas and jets of water to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in Istanbul's Taksim Square, shortly after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned police would intervene to end the protesters' occupation of a park bordering the square.

A man runs carrying fire extinguishers past a burning van during clashes at the Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.

Hundreds of police in riot gear forced through barricades in the square early Tuesday, pushing many of the protesters who had occupied the square for more than a week into a nearby park.

A protester affected by tear gas is helped by other protesters to a field hospital in Gezi Park in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013.

Police throw tear gas at protesters during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013.

Ambulances stand by to evacuate injured protesters after riot police flooded the Gazi Park with tear gas during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013.

Riot police take cover as a molotov cocktail explodes in front of them during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, June 11, 2013.

A protester climbs a barricade waving a flag depicting jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as a van burns during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013.

A man who had thrown a stone at a protester, center, runs to avoid being attacked, during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013.

Turkish riot police fire tear gas during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 11, 2013.

A protester throws a molotov cocktail at riot police during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, June 11, 2013.

A food street vendor wears a scuba mask to protect himself from tear gas as protesters clashed with Turkish police in central Ankara, June 11, 2013.

A protestor looks on during continued clashes with Turkish police near Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office in Istanbul, early morning June 4, 2013.

Thousands have joined anti-government rallies across Turkey 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.

See more: Protests turn Turkey's streets into battlefields

Protestors gather at Taksim square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

A protestor covers her face during clashes with Turkish police near Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

Protestors surrounded by a cloud of tear gas during clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, early morning June 4, 2013.

A protestor jumps out of a damaged bus at Taksim square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

Protestors cover their faces with plastic during clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, early morning June 4, 2013.

Protestors bang on a metal wall during clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

A medical team treats a protestor after he was injured by tear gas during early morning clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, June 4, 2013.

Protestors put out a fire after a car was burned in Istanbul's Taksim square, June 3, 2013.

A protestor waves the Turkish flag from a roof top in Taksim square, June 3, 2013.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - JUNE 04: A protestor during clashes with Turkish police near Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan office, between Taksim and Besiktas, early morning on June 4, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey. The protests began initially over the fate of Taksim Gezi Park, one of the last significant green spaces in the center of the city. The heavy-handed viewed response of the police, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government's increasingly authoritarian agenda has broadened the rage of the clashes. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Protestors rest during early morning clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, June 4, 2013.

Protestors throw tear gas back at Turkish police during clashes in Istanbul, June 4, 2013.

A medical team takes cover as they are surrounded by a cloud of tear gas during early morning clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, June 4, 2013.

A medical team treats a protestor after he was injured by tear gas during early morning clashes with Turkish police in Istanbul, June 4, 2013.

Protestors are seen during early morning clashes with Turkish in Istanbul, June 4, 2013.

A protester protects his face from the smoke of a burning car at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

Demonstrations that grew out of anger over excessive police force have spiraled into Turkey's biggest anti-government demonstrations in years, challenging Prime Minister's Recep Tayyip Erdogan power.

Read more: Turkey PM Erdogan lashes out over protests, asks what is the message

Youths shout slogans and dance during a protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

A street vendor sells Turkish flags, one of them decorated with the image of former leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during a protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

Turkish plainclothes police arrest a protestor during a demonstration against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul, June 1, 2013.

Turkish protestors face riot police on during a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park in Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 1, 2013.

A woman holds a placard as Turkish protestors and riot policemen clash during a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park, in Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 1, 2013.

Police are seen through tear gas smoke at the Besiktas area in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

Police in Turkey have used tear gas for a fourth day to disperse demonstrations that grew out of a sit-in to prevent the uprooting of trees at Istanbul's main square.

Protesters pour water on a woman's head after she fell to the ground during clashes with riot police against in Istanbul, June 1, 2013.

A woman opens her arms as police use a water cannon to disperse protestors in Istanbul, June 1, 2013.

Protesters hold hands during a demonstration at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

An injured demonstrator lies on the ground during a march to parliament and the prime minister's office in Ankara, Turkey, June 1, 2013.

Tear gas surrounds a protestor holding a Turkish flag with a portrait of the founder of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, as he takes part in a demonstration in support of protests in Istanbul and against the Turkish Prime Minister, in Ankara, Turkey, June 1, 2013.

Turkish protesters clash with riot police near the former Ottoman palace, Dolmabahce, where Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains an office in Istanbul, Turkey, June 2, 2013.

A man wears a mask during the third day of nationwide anti-government protest at Taksim square in Istanbul, June 2, 2013.

Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected claims that he is a "dictator," dismissing protesters as an extremist fringe, even as thousands returned to the landmark Istanbul square that has become the site of the fiercest anti-government outburst in years.

Police use water cannons as protesters run to avoid tear gas during the third day of nationwide anti-government protest near the Prime Minister's office in Istanbul, June 2, 2013.

Riot police positioned near the office of the Prime Minister in Ankara, Turkey, June 3, 2013.

High school students hold up a Turkish flag during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey, June 3, 2013.

A protester holding a fire extinguisher moves away from a burning car during a protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.

Demonstrations that grew out of anger over excessive police force have spiraled into Turkey's biggest anti-government demonstrations in years, challenging Prime Minister's Recep Tayyip Erdogan power.

Protesters take cover as a police vehicle fires water canon during clashes at the Taksim Square in Istanbul Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Hundreds of police in riot gear forced their way through barricades in the square early Tuesday, pushing many of the protesters who had occupied the square for more than a week into a nearby park. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Protesters try to extinguish a burning car during a protest at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 3, 2013.