Turkey reopened an Istanbul park at the heart of last month's demonstrations against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and protest leaders called a rally there for Monday evening (July 8) in defiance of the city governor.

The announcement came three weeks after riot police expelled protesters from Gezi Park following a fortnight of frequently violent protests against plans to redevelop the area.

The unrest died down in late June but police fired teargas and water cannon to disperse protesters who sought to march on Taksim Square and the adjoining park on Saturday (July 6).

Four people were killed and 7,500 wounded in last month's police crackdown, according to the Turkish Medical Association.

Last week it emerged that a Turkish court had cancelled the Taksim Square redevelopment project, including the construction of the replica barracks, although the state authorities can appeal against the ruling.

The ruling marked a victory for the coalition against the project and a blow for Erdogan, who stood firm against protests and riots he said were stoked by terrorists and looters.

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