Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today urged supporters of his Islamic-rooted party to use next year's local elections to "teach a lesson" to the anti-government demonstrators whose mass protests have rocked the country.
"There are just seven months left until the local elections. I want you to teach them a first lesson through democratic means at the ballot box," Erdogan told a crowd of cheering loyalists after landing at the airport in the southern city of Adana.
The leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) repeated his firm stance against the unrelenting demonstrations that have thrown up the biggest challenge to his decade-long rule.
"We will not do what a few looters have done. They burn, they destroy," said Erdogan, after police used tear gas on protesters in cities across the country in a 10th night of unrest.
"They are vile enough to insult a prime minister of this country," he said, labelling violent protesters "anarchists" and "terrorists".
The trouble first broke out when police cracked down heavily on a small campaign against an Istanbul park redevelopment, and spiralled into nationwide protests against Erdogan, seen as increasingly authoritarian.
Thousands have been injured and three people have died in the clashes so far, tarnishing Turkey's image as a model of Islamic democracy.
Turkey will hold local and presidential elections in 2014, with the first election rallies planned for next weekend.
