Gezi park reopened in Istanbul

The Istanbul park at the heart of last month's demonstrations against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan reopened on Monday – but protest leaders plan to hold another rally there.

Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu announced the reopening three weeks after riot police expelled protesters from Gezi Park following a fortnight of frequently violent protests against plans to redevelop the area, Reuters reports.

Taksim Solidarity, combining political and non-governmental groups opposed to the construction of a replica Ottoman era barracks on the site of the park, has called for its supporters to hold a public meeting there at 7 p.m local time on Monday.

Mutlu warned against renewed demonstrations.

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