ISTANBUL — An Istanbul park that was at the center of weeks of anti-government demonstrations opened for a few hours on Monday until Turkish authorities had a change of heart, closing it down again in an apparent bid to avoid confrontations with protesters who had planned a rally. Gov. Huseyin Avni Mutlu declared Gezi Park, at Istanbul's landmark Taksim Square, reopened to the public, but warned he would not allow it to become a point for more demonstrations or occupation. Some three hours later, police asked the public to vacate the park and barred new visitors from entering it. Gezi had been cordoned off since June 15, when police routed thousands of environmentalists who occupied it amid widespread protests against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. The demonstrations were sparked by government plans to redevelop the park with replica Ottoman-era military barracks. Protesters had planned to return to the park on Monday evening to hold a “forum” for discussions on Turkey's future and on protests. But Mutlu warned the park was no place “for forums, occupation or marches” and said new protests at the park would not be tolerated. – AP
