Turkish police arrested dozens of people in Istanbul and Ankara Tuesday as part of a crackdown against anti-government protests that began in late May, with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan claiming by morning that the government had achieved victory in putting down the protests.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday claimed victory over anti-government protesters after a heavy crackdown, as police raided homes and arrested dozens of demonstrators in a bid to stamp out nearly three weeks of unrest… “Our democracy has been tested again and came out victoriously,” the premier told members of his ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) to roaring applause.

“The people and the AKP government have foiled the plot… hatched by traitors and their foreign accomplices.”

Initial media reports indicated the raids targeted left-wing groups. The arrests follow an announcement Monday by Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler that Ankara was preparing new regulations to police social media outlets for those “inciting people or coordinating and directing events that would cause social incidents or endanger material and physical public safety through manipulative, false news.” Earlier this month, dozens of people were arrested for speaking out against the government via social media, which Erdogan at the time referred to as “the worst menace to society.”

[Photo: EmreileHerTelden / Youtube]