Before a rally of thousands of flag-waving supporters Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan defended riot police who fired water cannons at crowds in Istanbul.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Yesterday, they once again attempted to occupy the square. Police showed patience up until a point. They made a series of warnings but when the crowd refused to leave -- police had to disperse them"<br/> <br />He also scolded demonstrators for their behavior<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"We want an end to this, we expect to see the end of the attacks against police and to illegal, unethical behavior and actions"<br/> <br />Sunday's mass rally was the fifth which Erdogan has called since protests began in Istanbul in an unprecedented challenge to his 10-year rule.<br/> <br />The protests have underlined divisions in Turkish society between religious conservatives who form the bedrock of Erdogan's support and more
