Turkish shares fell 6.67 percent, the lira spiralled to 16-month lows and bond yields jumped on Monday as investors were given their first chance to respond to violent anti-government protests over the weekend in cities across the country. Protests, which began last week with a demonstration to save an Istanbul park from development, have widened into a broad show of defiance against the ruling AK Party. Tens of thousands of Turks took to the streets on Sunday and many clashed with riot police in major cities. The streets were quieter on Monday morning after another night of protests and violence in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities, which have seen police battle protesters with tear gas. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called for calm, urging people not to be provoked by demonstrations he said had been organised by "extremist elements". His remarks at a Monday news conference did not reassure investors concerned that unrest would go on.
