Turkish authorities close Gezi park three hours after it reopens

Taksim Gezi Park, which has become the heart of the anti-government movement sweeping Turkey, was briefly opened to public use today before access to the park was blocked again by police officers three hours later, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Live TV footage showed police officers forcing people out of the park, which has been closed since a brutal police crackdown on protesters in the park on June 15.

Police then closed entrances not only to the park, but also roads leading to the city center, including Harbiye, Gümüşsuyu and İstiklal Square, the most populated point of the city.

Riot police fired pressurized water at the crowd on Taksim Square at around 7 p.m, Hurriyet Daily News reports.