Agencies in Istanbul guardian.co.uk, Friday 7 June 2013 11.17 AEST
Turkey's prime minister again ratchets up rhetoric against protesters on his return to Istanbul
Tayyip Erdogan waves to supporters after arriving in Istanbul early on Friday morning. Photograph: Osman Orsal/Reuters
Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has delivered a fiery speech on his return to the country, telling supporters who thronged to greet him that the protests that have swept the country must end.
In the first large public show of support since anti-government protests erupted last week, more than 10,000 supporters cheered Erdogan outside an Istanbul airport.
Despite earlier comments that suggested he could be softening his stand, Erdogan was in combative mood on his return from a four-day trip to North Africa.
"These protests that are bordering on illegality must come to an end immediately," he said.
Erdogan's reaction has been seen as decisive in determining whether the demonstrations fizzle out or rage on.
"Those who raise their hands against the police should have their hands broken," his supporters chanted. Rights groups say thousands of people have been injured in the demonstrations. Three people have died – two protesters and a policeman.
"We stood strong, but we were never stubborn ... We are together, we are unified, we are brothers," Erdogan told his supporters, who had blocked roads to the airport for hours, waiting for him until long after midnight.
"They say I am the prime minister of only 50%. It's not true. We have served the whole of the 76m from the east to the west," Erdogan said at the airport, referring to his election win in 2011, when he took 50% of the vote.
Speaking before leaving Tunisia, Erdogan had attempted more of a balancing act, appearing to moderate his tone in an effort not to further inflame protesters.
Erdogan acknowledged that some Turks were involved in the protests out of environmental concerns, and said he had "love and respect" for them.
The protests started last week over objections to Erdogan's plan to uproot the square's Gezi Park to make way for a replica Ottoman barracks and shopping mall. Police's extensive use of tear gas and water cannons outraged many and sent thousands flooding into the square to support what had, until then, been a small protest.
In Tunisisa, Erdogan claimed terrorists had been involved in the protests, saying an outlawed left-wing militant group that carried out a suicide bombing on the US embassy in Ankara in February was taking part.
"They are involved. They have been caught in the streets and on social media," he said.
Thousands greet defiant Erdogan | World news | guardian.co.uk
