People light candles in victims' memory of recent protests at Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 14, 2013.
ISTANBUL —
Late night talks between Turkish Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan and protest representatives have brought the hope of a peaceful outcome to the two weeks of nationwide anti-government protests. The unrest was sparked by government plans to redevelop a park in central Istanbul. Now those plans are on hold.
In the early hours of Friday morning, representatives for protesters and a government spokesman described the all night meeting as positive.
Friday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appealed to protesters to evacuate park by late Friday, after pledging to suspend plans to redevelop the site.
In a televised speech Friday, Erdogan said the protesters have remained in the park long enough and have delivered their message. He said that message has been "received and evaluated."
The meeting in the capital, Ankara, was the first time Erdogan had met protest organizers directly. He said he would respect a court injunction blocking his plans to redevelop Gezi Park in central Istanbul and he committed his government to accepting its final decision.
Speaking after Thursday night's meeting, government spokesman Huseyin Celik said the talks had a positive outcome.
He says that Turkey is a state of law and it is impossible for the executive branch to perform an unlawful act. He says the government must conform to a court decision.
Celik said a public vote would be held on the future of Gezi Park.
Plans to redevelop the park into a shopping center were the initial spark for the protests, which then broadened into anti-government demonstrations in several cities.
Tayfun Kahraman, one of the protest organizers, welcomed the government move.
He says that delaying the project until the judiciary makes a decision is a positive result.
Protests in Turkey
1/13A protester makes the victory sign as he sits outside Gezi Park in front of riot police vehicles at Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 14, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
2/13Protesters watch a film in Gezi Park in Istanbul, June 14, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
3/13German pianist Davide Martello is surrounded by anti-government protesters as he performs in Istanbul's Taksim Square, June 13, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
4/13Protesters stand in front of a barricade at Gezi park, Istanbul, June 13, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
5/13Taksim Square is flooded by tear gas during clashes between protesters and riot police, Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
6/13Police operate during clashes at Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
7/13A protester tries to take cover from a water cannon fired by police during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
8/13A protester throws a tear gas canister back at police during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
9/13A protester throws a gas bomb towards riot police during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
10/13A protester throws a petrol bomb towards a crowd control vehicle in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
11/13A crowd control vehicle fires a water cannon against protesters in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
12/13A protester walks in front of a burning barricade during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
13/13Protesters carry another protester affected by tear gas during clashes in Taksim Square in Istanbul, June 11, 2013.
Anti-government protesters who met with Turkey's prime minister say he has pledged to hold off on plans to redevelop an Istanbul park until a court rules on the project.
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Kahraman is a member of Taksim Solidarity which initiated the occupation of Gezi Park that sparked the nationwide unrest.
Throughout the night hundreds of the police backed by armored cars surrounded the park ready to move against the protestors who spent the night listening to live music and waiting on developments in Ankara.
Earlier, Erdogan took a tough line on the protests, branding the demonstrators as "extremists" and "looters."
Speaking at a meeting of his ruling AK Party (AKP) in Ankara on Thursday, Erdogan said that the government's patience is at an end and that he is making a last warning to protesters
For now, the police appear to have backed off. The government is still calling for an end to the occupation of the park but appear to have dropped the 24-hour ultimatum. The protestors are due to decide whether to continue their occupation.
