Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today commented on the ongoing opposition protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last week, warning that disturbing the peace of Turkish citizens "with provocations" must stop, the Anadolu Agency reported.
In a speech after a Turkish cabinet meeting today, the president warned the opposition not to "play with the people's nerves anymore."
"Do not let marginal leftist organizations, from which you have taken not only their slogans but also their mentality, against our police," he said.
"Stop disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocations. If you have the courage, hold accountable the corruption, theft and the taken bribes", the president also said.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained on March 19 as part of investigations into corruption and terrorism, sparking a wave of protests.
The government categorically rejects accusations that the prosecution of Imamoglu and his associates is political.