Turkish PM gives protesters ‘final warning’

A day after violent clashes, calm returns to Istanbul's Gezi Park where protesters have been camped out for almost two weeks.

But on Thursday Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern ultimatum.

(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING:

"Nobody can invade the park. Therefore we have been patient till now but now patience is running out. This is my final warning. I am calling on mothers and fathers, please do something about your children."

The prime minister's words are likely to raise fears that another police crackdown is imminent.

Turkey has already received condemnation for its heavy handed response to the protests, with the EU calling on Erdogan's government to investigate cases of excessive force.

But demonstrators in Istanbul were defiant, despite the tear gas and water cannons they faced a day earlier.

(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER TOLGA TEZMEN SAYING:

"If they will attack us, we will be in