ANKARA (AFP) - The Turkish government apologised on Tuesday to people wounded in days of clashes between police and demonstrators who accuse it of pushing restrictive Islamic-leaning reforms.

"I apologise to those who were subject to violence because of their sensitivity for the environment," said Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, blaming the firing of tear gas by police for sparking the clashes that erupted at a demonstration to save a public park.