In Turkey, police used water cannons and tear gas against thousands of protesters who gathered in Istanbul’s Taksim Square over the weekend to remember those killed in earlier clashes. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan defended the police actions before a crowd of his supporters.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan: “Yesterday, they once again attempted to occupy the square. Police showed patience until some point. They made a series of warnings, but when the crowd refused to leave, the police had to disperse them.”

Sunday’s pro-government rally was the latest of several called by Erdogan amid weeks of anti-government protests that began with objections to the razing of an Istanbul park. Protests also continued in the capital Ankara, where police used water cannons and tear gas Saturday night.