Hundreds of protesters have returned to the streets of Istanbul and Ankara after two days of unrest that have seen more than 1,700 arrests . Largely peaceful protesters waved flags in Istanbul ' s Taksim Square but there were reports police had fired tear gas in Kizilay Square in Ankara . PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said protesters were trying to undermine democracy . The protests began over redeveloping a park near Taksim Square but broadened into anti-government unrest . They represent the most sustained anti-government unrest for a number of years . Correspondents say many people are fed up with the government , which they believe is becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on the officially secular country .

Last week the government quickly passed legislation curbing the sale and advertising of alcoholic drinks , which analysts say alarmed secularists . Many felt insulted when he defended the legislation by calling people who drink " alcoholics ". Mr Erdogan accuses his opponents of using the anger over the park issue to stir up wider tensions .

' Lesson learnt ' There were isolated clashes around the streets of Istanbul early on Sunday . But the atmosphere later in the day was calmer and largely peaceful , with demonstrators milling about between burnt-out cars and gathering around fires . The BBC ' s Selin Girit in the square says music concerts took place throughout the day , and that the thousands of protesters were calling for the gathering to remain peaceful . There was no apparent police presence , says our correspondent . One protester , Akin , told Reuters : " We will stay until the end . We are not leaving . The only answer now is for this government to fall . We are tired of this oppressive government constantly putting pressure on us ." More than 1,000 protesters also gathered in Kizilay Square in Ankara on Sunday , with reports police had fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse them . The police reportedly responded after protesters moved towards the office of Mr Erdogan . In an interview on state television on Sunday , the prime minister said the protests were being provoked by the opposition Republican People ' s Party ( CHP ), and that those taking part

were trying to undermine democracy . " They have been removing pavestones and breaking the windows of local stores . Is this democracy ?" he asked , dismissing the protesters as " a few looters ". He rejected accusations that he was a " dictator ", saying he was a person who had " committed himself to serving his nation ". Mr Erdogan also criticised social media , through which the protests have been co-ordinated and discussed . He said Twitter was a " curse " and an " extreme version of lying ". " I think social media as a whole is a pain in the side of society ," he said . On Saturday , he had admitted there had been " some mistakes , extremism in police response ". But he accused his opponents of using the anger over the Gezi Park issue - where trees were torn down reportedly to construct a new mosque and rebuild a replica Ottoman-era barracks - to stoke up tensions . Istanbul mayor Kadir Topbas tried to ease the tension , telling a local television station that " we have learnt our lesson ". He regretted " not informing the people enough " about the Gezi Park redevelopment . Shop owners , city workers and protesters have begun cleaning up after

Friday and Saturday ' s unrest and removing graffiti from walls and windows . Interior Minister Muammer Guler said 90 demonstrations had taken place in 48 cities after the protests spiralled . He said more than 1,700 people had been arrested - many had since been released but others would be put on trial , he told the Anatolia news agency . Mr Guler said one of the injured civilians was being treated in an intensive care unit at an Istanbul hospital . Amnesty International claimed two people had been killed and more than 1,000 injured , though there was no confirmation of those figures . Amnesty ' s Europe director John Dalhuisen said : " The excessively heavy-handed response to the entirely peaceful protests in Taksim has been truly disgraceful ." The US also expressed concern over Turkey ' s handling of the protests . Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in power since 2002 , and is expected to run for the presidency in 2014 . Some in Turkey have complained that his government is becoming increasingly authoritarian . His ruling AK Party has its roots in political Islam , but he says he is committed to Turkey ' s state secularism .( BBC News )