Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu today called for an end to nationwide anti-government protests, saying they would hurt the country's reputation in the region and the world.
"The continuation of these protests ... Will bring no benefits but will harm the reputation of our country which is admired both in the region and the world," Davutoglu tweeted.
He said the Turkish authorities' response to the protest -- which has included firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators and arresting more than 1,700 people, though most have since been released -- had been portrayed in a way that failed to take into account the government's efforts to promote freedom of expression over the last decade.
"This is unfair," he said.
But he emphasised that "Turkey has the strength and maturity to overcome this."
His remarks came after the protests earned Turkey a rare rebuke from its Western allies.
The United States, Britain and France urged the government to exercise restraint in the face of the demonstrations, which started out as a local campaign in Istanbul's main Taksim Square but have snowballed into nationwide protests against the government.
