park is where it all began. it was all about conserving the small little green space, the last green space many people will tell you exists in istanbul. we re hearing volleys of tear gas still going on. but it escalated into these widespread demonstrations against what those who oppose the government are saying. people demonstrating against the fact that they feel as if this conservative islamist government is trying to impose its own morals on what until knew has been a psych lar society. turkey for decades has been priding itself on really separating itself from politics and religion. people are dug in for the long haul. they ve been chanting it s not going to end.
we keep hearing volleys of gunfire. i can t tell. i m assuming it s one of the combatants here. you are not seeing a lot of evidence of the egyptian army on street at this moment? reporter: i was looking out. i turned to my colleague and said where the tanks? they had been down here at least kind of sealing off tahir square and now the nearest ones i see now i see two down here by the waterfront but those are the only ones i see. not that they have been very effective. stand by there if you can. we ll turn to richard engel your colleague also there on the ground. richard from a slightly different vantage point. describe what you re seeing and what you make of the developments today. reporter: well, what we are seeing right now is the protesters who are still below tahir square are starting to set