Turkey claims double standards over protest fallout Accused of "excessive" use of force: Turkish riot police clash with protesters clash with riot police near the former Ottoman palace. The Turkish Prime Minister has accused the US and European countries of double standards after the European Union called for an investigation of the "excessive" use of force by the country's police against protesters. A day after calling for both opponents and supporters to "go home" and end the mass protests continuing across Turkey, Recep Erdogan defended himself against international criticism. He asked "where was the outrage over tear gas" used to disperse Occupy protesters in the US. Mr Erdogan also pointed to the suppression of protests in London and the rest of Europe. "Similar protests have taken place in Britain, France, Germany and bigger ones in Greece," he said on Friday. All of them are members of the European Union. He made the comments at a conference in Istanbul, where Stefan Fule, the commissioner responsible for relations with countries seeking EU membership, was speaking before talks on Turkey's long-held ambition to join the union. Mr Fule condemned the crackdown on protesters last week. Thousands have been wounded, including several people blinded, during the demonstrations, by riot police firing tear-gas and rubber bullets directly into crowds, mostly without provocation. "Peaceful demonstrations constitute a legitimate way for ... groups to express their views in a democratic society," Mr Fule said. Excessive use of force by police against these demonstrations has no place in such a democracy. Mr Fule acknowledged that the government had apologised for the police attacks, but demanded it carry out proper retribution and a "swift and transparent investigation." The protests have also put a strain on the police forces, with officers working long hours and complaining of "exhaustion" after days of "sleeping on the streets and in police cars," and of suffering from social exclusion for following orders. The unrest has been sparked by a police crackdown on a protest over development at an Istanbul park. On Friday Mr Erdogan scrapped his plan to build a shopping mall, designed as a replica of an Ottoman-era army barracks, on one of the few green patches in central Istanbul, but he insisted on razing the park nevertheless, a mixed signal that could prolong protests here and in other cities. Mr Erdogan said the mall "is not possible in the artillery barracks anyway, given the measurements." He added: "We may build a city museum instead, and a green area that would be far better than the current park." Telegraph, London; with MCT