63 detained in Taksim Gezi Park protests

Governor of Istanbul Huseyin Ayni Mutlu said Friday that 12 were injured and 63 were detained in protests against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park.

Mutlu, speaking in a press conference blamed a group among protesters of "provocation and exploiting the protest for their own political agenda."

He noted a woman who had suffered a head injury underwent a surgery and she was still at an intensive care unit.

Mutlu said one journalist was among those injured by trauma and tear gas, adding that the journalist's was in good condition.

He also said that police had detained 63 people.

Also speaking at the press conference, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas emphasized the demolition in Taksim Gezi Park was not related to a project to construct a shopping mall there but it was a part a wider renovation project of the Taksim Square.

Within the scope of the Taksim pedestrianization project, approved by the government in February 2012, the Gezi Park walls facing the Elmadag area were demolished by construction workers on Monday night. Shortly after, a group of protesters came to the park to prevent further uprooting of the trees and demolition of walls.

Earlier, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on the protests by saying that the government had made its decision and there would be no U-turn in this regard.