Saturday, July 16, 2016

Turkish President Erdogan appears in Istanbul to denounce army coup attempt

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has flown in to Istanbul, after an army group said it took over the country.
Speaking in Istanbul in the early hours on Saturday, President Erdogan promised to clean up the army.
"Those who drive around in tanks will have to go back to where they came from," he said.
He also dismissed the coup leaders as "terrorists".
Mr Erdogan earlier told CNN Turk by mobile phone the action was by a "parallel structure" that would bring the necessary response. He has used this term in the past to refer to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Muslim cleric he accuses of fomenting unrest.
He was seen surrounded by supporters, and said the coup attempt was an "act of treason" in a live TV speech.
The army group earlier declared that a "peace council" now ran the country and there was a curfew and martial law.
But Prime Minister Binali Yildirim later said the situation was largely under control and a no-fly zone was in force over the capital Ankara.
Mr Yildirim said 130 people had so far been arrested, and he ordered the military to shoot down aircraft being used by coup plotters.
Earlier, one of the helicopters being flown by forces involved in the coup attempt was shot down over Ankara.
However, the whereabouts of the military chief of staff remains unknown.
Istanbul's main Ataturk airport is now under army control, and flights - which had been interrupted for some hours - are due to resume from 06:00 (03:00 GMT).
Soldiers were earlier seen at strategic points in Istanbul, with jets flying low in Ankara.
Two large explosion were also heard near Istanbul's central Taksim Square.
There were also reports of blasts at parliament building in Ankara. MPs were believed to be hiding in shelters.
There are unconfirmed reports that some people have died in clashes.
Broadcaster CNN Turk was reportedly taken over by soldiers, and its live broadcast was cut.
In Washington, US President Barack Obama urged all parties in Turkey to support the "democratically elected government".
Nato called for "full respect" for Turkey's democratic institutions.
'Parallel structure'

Erdogan supporters protest in front of soldiers on Istanbul's Taksim Square. Photo: 16 July 2016
Image copyright
AP
Image caption
Erdogan supporters gathered on Istanbul's Taksim Square for a protest rally
A man stands in front of a Turkish army tank at Istanbul's Ataturk airport. Photo: 16 July 2016
Image copyright
REUTERS
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One protester tried to block tanks at Istanbul's Ataturk airport
Mr Erdogan spoke to CNN Turk via Facetime
Image copyright
GETTY IMAGES
Image caption
Mr Erdogan spoke to CNN Turk via Facetime
Soldiers were deployed in Istanbul's Taksim Square
Image copyright
REUTERS
Image caption
Soldiers were deployed in Istanbul's Taksim Square
Police were standing guard outside the Turkish military HQ in Ankara
Image copyright
GETTY IMAGES
Image caption
Police were standing guard outside the Turkish military HQ in Ankara


Turkey's military coups
  • 1993 - Claims of a "covert coup" intended to prevent a peace settlement with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
  • 1980 - Military coup following armed conflict between right-wing and left-wing groups in the 1970s
  • 1971 - Military coup known as the "coup by memorandum", which the military delivered instead of sending out tanks
  • 1960 - Coup by group of young military officer outside chain of command, against the democratically-elected Democrat Party


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