Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has called on protesters to withdraw from central Istanbul’s Gezi Park.

He said a wave of anti-government demonstrations was part of a deliberate attempt to damage Turkey’s image and economy. The riot police were gathered in an area on the fringes of the park, but there were no immediate signs of them moving to take apart tents and shelters or remove banners and flags.

Earlier, hundreds of riot police entered Taksim Square and removed protesters’ banners from a building overlooking the square. This was the 12th day of nationwide protests which grew from a peaceful demonstration against a redevelopment of Gezi Park. The protests have since become a test of the authority of Prime Minister Erdogan.