Mass protests are continuing in Turkey, despite a government apology for the police crackdown. In a bid to defuse public outrage that has sparked fiery demonstrations nationwide, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc expressed regret for the initial police response to protesters opposing the demolition of a pubic park. But he defended the use of force against protesters he accused of rioting.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc: “The use of excessive force shown against the people who initially started this protest with the motive of protecting the environment was wrong. And it was unfair. So I apologize to those citizens, I can definitely say that. But I do not think we need to apologize to those who create destruction of public property in the streets and who try to prevent the freedom of the people in the streets.”

Hours after Arinc’s statement, clashes continued across Turkey overnight between protesters and police. Thousands remain at the protests’ epicenter, Istanbul’s Taksim Square.