Protests in Istanbul over the weekend erupted into full-scale riots Sunday as protesters clashed with the Turkish government over the fate of Gezi Park. The protests started peacefully last week after the government announced its plan to demolish the park, one of the last remaining green spaces in Istanbul, to make way for a shopping mall. The tension over the park is layered on top of Turkish citizens' growing concern about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian policies.

According to Reuters, “Some, including former supporters, accuse him of growing increasingly authoritarian, muzzling the media, tightening his AK party's grip on state institutions and putting religion at the center of politics in violation of Turkey's secular constitution.”

Two weeks before the protests, Prime Minister Erdogan visited the White House to discuss matters regarding Syria, Turkey and other Middle East policies with the United States.

Protests have continued throughout the weekend as police and rioters clashed in Istanbul and Ankara. Here’s a look at the progression of the protests into full-scale rioting throughout the country.

Turkey Ankara Riots 4
Man is hit by a jet of water as riot police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against Turkey's PM Erdogan and his ruling AKP in central Ankara Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riots 9 Tear Gas
Riot police fire tear gas during a protest against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party in central Ankara Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riot
Demonstrator throws a garbage bin at an armoured police vehicle during a protest against Turkey's PM Erdogan and his ruling AKP in central Ankara Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riots 10 Gas Mask
A demonstrator wears a gas mask made out of a plastic water bottle during a protest against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party in central Ankar Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riots 2 Injury
Injured demonstrator is carried to an ambulance during clashes with riot police during a protest against Turkey's PM Erdogan and his ruling AKP in central Ankara Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riots 3 Board
Demonstrators take cover under a board which reads ''resurrection'' on it as Turkish riot police use tear gas to disperse them during a protest against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party in central Ankara Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riots 7 Police Shield
Turkish riot police protect themselves with their shields during clashes with protesters as they protest against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party in central Ankara Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riots 5 Detain
Riot police detain a protester during demonstrations against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party in central Ankara Reuters
Turkey Ankara Riots 6 Flag
An anti-government protester holds Turkey's national flag during a demonstration in Ankara Reuters
Turkey Istanbul Riots 7 Barricades
Anti-government protesters behind the barricades and on an excavator clash with riot police as they try to march to the office of Turkey's PM Erdogan in Istanbul Reuters
Turkey Istanbul Riots 9 Flag
A protester holds a Turkish national flag with the image of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, on it at Taksim Square in central Istanbul Reuters
Turkey Istanbul Riots 1
Anti-government protesters behind barricades and a excavator clash with riot police as they try to march to the office of Turkey's PM Erdogan in Istanbul early Reuters
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