Protesters shout anti-government slogans during a demonstration in Ankara on June 25 2013. The head of Istanbul's bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games on June 25, 2013 said he was proud of the young protesters who have flooded the streets of Turkish cities in recent weeks and did not think the demonstrations would harm the city's chances of hosting the event. Turkey has taken a tough stance against the tens of thousands of demonstrators who have been protesting since May 31 against the government, which has been seen as increasingly authoritarian and conservative. The protests, which have left at least four people dead and nearly 8,000 injured, have infuriated Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the heavy-handed government response earning Ankara criticism and raising tensions notably with Germany.
