Baku, Azerbaijan, April 22
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Taksim Square in the Turkish city of Istanbul city is not suitable for holding the May Day march, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, the country's TRT Haber TV channel reported on April 22.
"One should forget about holding marches on Taksim Square," the prime minister said.
Erdogan went on to add that Turkey's government doesn't want the situation to become tense in the country during the May Day march.
Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala earlier said there will be no May Day march on Taksim Square.
"Taksim Square is not suitable for any marches, so the procession should be held somewhere else," Minister Efkan Ala said.
He said that many things, including public safety should be taken into account during public events.
Turkey's leading oppositional Republican People's Party (CHP) earlier said the party's supporters will gather on May Day on Taksim Square in Istanbul, despite prohibitions.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.