AK Party's extended provincial heads meeting in Ankara
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday that Turkey is against the "chaos" caused by yellow vest protestors and the use of “disproportionate force” against them.
“We’re concerned as we follow the events unfolding on European streets," he added.
“The footage that emerged shows that Europe’s democracy, human rights and freedom lessons are only confined to classrooms,” said Erdoğan as he warned that French streets should not witness the “oppression that began in the summer of 1789,” in reference to the French Revolution that same year.
“Europe’s walls of security and welfare are not being shaken by migrants or Muslims, but by Europe’s own citizens,” he added.
Police in Brussels, Belgium, dispersed protestors wearing "yellow vests" (gilets jaunes) onto the side streets on Saturday.The protestors were demonstrating against high taxes and costs of living in the city.Hundreds of police officers were mobilized across Brussels, where yellow vest protesters last week clashed with police and torched two police vehicles.Police took tight security measures in the city center and the area where the EU Commission and Council are located.More than 70 people were detained. Ilse Van de Keere, a police spokesperson, said that arrests were carried out around the Brussels central train station and the Schuman area.Video: 'Yellow Vests' protest in BrusselsِAt least 481 people arrested in relation to Yellow Vest protests in FranceProtests in France have 'created a monster': Minister
Police in Brussels disperse 'yellow vest' protesters onto side streets
French riot police fired tear gas and clashed with "yellow vest" protesters in central Paris on Saturday during the latest in a wave of demonstrations against the high cost of living that have shaken President Emmanuel Macron's authority.
Authorities said 575 people had been searched and briefly arrested and 361 people of them remained in custody after police found potential weapons such as hammers, baseball bats and metal petanque balls on them.
Hundreds of protesters were milling around the Arc de Triomphe monument, which was defaced with anti-Macron graffiti last Saturday, when rioters also torched dozens of cars and looted shops in the worst rioting in Paris since May 1968.
The protests, named after the high-visibility safety jackets French motorists have to keep in their cars, erupted in November over the squeeze on household budgets caused by fuel taxes.
The French protests have inspired similar demonstrations in other European nations, notably in Belgium.
French riot police fired tear gas and clashed with "yellow vest" protesters in central Paris on Saturday during the latest in a wave of demonstrations against the high cost of living that have shaken President Emmanuel Macron's authority.Authorities said 575 people had been searched and briefly arrested and 361 people of them remained in custody after police found potential weapons such as hammers, baseball bats and metal petanque balls on them.Hundreds of protesters were milling around the Arc de Triomphe monument, which was defaced with anti-Macron graffiti last Saturday, when rioters also torched dozens of cars and looted shops in the worst rioting in Paris since May 1968.Video: French police deploy dogs during 'yellow vest' protests at Arc de TriompheA police spokeswoman told reporters there were about 1,500 protesters on the Champs Elysees boulevard. Large groups of people spilled into other areas and heading to eastern Paris, where a march against climate change was scheduled for the afternoon. Some also temporarily blocked the ring road circling central Paris."We took the train for 11 hours just to protest today. We feel scorned by these technocrats that govern us," said Gilles Noblet, a demonstrator from the southwest region of Ariege.Prime Minister Edouard Philippe appealed for restraint.Galeri: 'Yellow Vest' protests continue to dominate Paris"We will do all we can so that today can be a day without violence, so that the dialogue that we started this week can continue in the best possible circumstances," he said on French television.On Tuesday, Philippe announced the government was suspending planned increases to fuel taxes for at least six months to help defuse weeks of protests, the first U-turn by Macron since he came to power 18 months ago.About 89,000 police were deployed across France on Saturday, some 8,000 of them in Paris.Video: French police fire tear gas at protesters in Paris"TROUBLEMAKERS""We have prepared a robust response," Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told online news site Brut. He called on peaceful protesters not to get mixed up with "hooligans"."The troublemakers can only be effective when they disguise themselves as yellow vests. Violence is never a good way to get what you want. Now is the time for discussion," he said."We have come here for a peaceful march, not to smash things. We want equality, we want to live, not survive," said Guillaume Le Grac, 28, who works in a slaughterhouse in the town of Guingamp in Britanny.Protesters, using social media, have billed the weekend as "Act IV" in a dramatic challenge to Macron and his policies.Video: Police position armoured vehicles around Arc de Triomphe during protestSmall groups of riot police moved quickly among protestors and clamped down on anyone trying to damage shops or public amenities.Much of Paris looked like a ghost town, with museums, department stores closed on what should have been a festive pre-Christmas shopping day.Many shops were boarded up to avoid looting and street furniture and construction site materials have been removed to prevent them from being used as projectiles.Tourists were few and residents were advised to stay at home if at all possible. Dozens of streets were closed to traffic, while the Eiffel Tower and world-famous museums such as the Musee d'Orsay, the Centre Pompidou and the Louvre were shut.Protests in France have 'created a monster': Minister"Tourists are a bit disoriented - no subway, no shopping, no museums... but they seem to take it in their stride," said hotel receptionist Pascal, who declined to give his surname.The protests, named after the high-visibility safety jackets French motorists have to keep in their cars, erupted in November over the squeeze on household budgets caused by fuel taxes.Demonstrations have since swelled into a broad, sometimes violent rebellion against Macron, a challenge made more difficult to handle since the movement has no formal leader.Authorities say the protests have been hijacked by far-right and anarchist elements bent on violence and stirring up social unrest in a direct affront to Macron and the security forces.Despite the government's climbdown over the fuel tax, the 'yellow vests' continue to demand more concessions, including lower taxes, a higher minimum wage, lower energy costs, better retirement benefits and even Macron's resignation.Police in Brussels disperse 'yellow vest' protesters onto side streets
French police clash with 'yellow vest' protesters in Paris