Turkish Leader Defends Police Crackdown on Protesters

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought his supporters onto the streets as he staged rallies in several cities including the capital Ankara, where police moved against protesters in the city center.

Erdogan blamed banks and financial speculators for seeking to profit from the unrest as he spoke to crowds in the cities of Adana and Mersin before a multi-stop speaking tour in Ankara, where he halted his journey from the airport several times late yesterday to address crowds from atop his bus. It was a show of strength by the Islamist-rooted premier, who has been the target of nationwide protests since police cracked down on a rally in an Istanbul park on May 31.