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People shout anti-government slogans during a rally by the labor unions in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, June 17, 2013. A day earlier, riot police cordoned off streets, set up roadblocks and fired tear gas and water cannons to prevent anti-government protesters from an effort to return to Taksim Square in Istanbul. Labor unions and political foes of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan rallied Monday by the thousands across Turkey, hoping to capitalize on weeks of protest that began as small-scale activism and parlay it into a chance to register broader discontent.
ANKARA, Turkey—Turkey's prime minister on Tuesday brushed aside international criticism over his government's crackdown on widespread demonstrations and vowed to increase the police's powers to deal with the unrest. Meanwhile, more than 90 people were detained in police raids linked to the protests.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's defiant stance appeared aimed at shoring up his conservative base in Turkey, where the rallies have exposed fissures between urban and largely secularist Turks and the more religious classes. But Erdogan's bellicosity has dented his global reputation; EU officials on Tuesday nixed a visit due to some of his comments.



Four protesters and one police officer have been killed, and Turkey's doctors association said an investigation was underway into the death of a fifth person who was exposed to tear gas.





"Our security forces put up a successful and extremely patient struggle against the acts of violence by remaining within the limits set by democracy and the law," Erdogan said.


The trend was launched by performance artist Erdem Gunduz, who stood silently for hours in Istanbul's central Taksim Square on Monday night as others joined him and replicated the protest in other cities.



Navi Pillay, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said law enforcement bodies must be held accountable, and that "the government must also provide adequate reparation to victims of excessive use of force and other serious human rights violations by security forces."

Erdogan did not mention the reports of tear gas being fired into closed spaces or directly at protesters, but told lawmakers it was police officers' "natural right" to fire tear gas.

Also Tuesday, a United Nations spokesman said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was saddened by the deaths and injuries in Turkey and urged "maximum restraint and the pursuit of constructive dialogue in order to resolve differences and avoid further violent confrontation."

"He believes that stability is best assured through such dialogue and when the rights to peaceful assembly and the freedom of expression are fully respected," said the spokesman, Eduardo del Buey.


EU lawmakers said they'd be scrapping a Wednesday visit to Turkey after Erdogan last week issued stinging criticism of an EU resolution that expressed concern over the "disproportionate and excessive use of force" by Turkish police against the demonstrators.

Erdogan had declared that he "won't recognize the decision that the European Union Parliament is going to take" and asked them, "Who do you think you are by taking such a decision?"

European parliamentarian Elmar Brok said the Turkish government "should understand how to deal with criticism."


Edith M. Lederer in New York contributed.