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Turkish President Erdogan appears in Istanbul to denounce army coup attempt | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has flown in to Istanbul, after an army group said it took over the country. | |
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. | |
Government officials in Turkey say dozens of people have been arrested, but the whereabouts of the military chief of staff remains unknown. | |
Read the latest live updates | |
International reaction | |
In pictures | |
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. | 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. | |
CNN Turk broadcaster was reportedly taken over by soldiers, and its live broadcast was cut. | CNN Turk broadcaster was reportedly taken over by soldiers, and its live broadcast was cut. |
It is unclear who is leading the plotting army group, or how much support it enjoys. Some top army officials are said to be detained. | |
People across Turkey are very confused and surprised, the BBC's Katy Watson in Istanbul says. | People across Turkey are very confused and surprised, the BBC's Katy Watson in Istanbul says. |
In Washington, US President Barack Obama urged all parties in Turkey to support the "democratically elected government". | 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. | Nato called for "full respect" for Turkey's democratic institutions. |
'Parallel structure' | |
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. | 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. |
Fethullah Gulen: Powerful but reclusive Turkish cleric | Fethullah Gulen: Powerful but reclusive Turkish cleric |
Mr Erdogan called on people to take to the streets to oppose the uprising. | Mr Erdogan called on people to take to the streets to oppose the uprising. |
He said: "I urge the Turkish people to convene at public squares and airports. I never believed in a power higher than the power of the people." | He said: "I urge the Turkish people to convene at public squares and airports. I never believed in a power higher than the power of the people." |
The president said he had returned to Istanbul from the holiday resort of Marmaris in the south-west of the country. He said the | |
Defying the announced curfew, a number of Erdogan supporters then turned out on Taksim Square late on Friday. | |
There have since been reports of clashes there, with some on Twitter saying that gunfire has been heard near the square. | There have since been reports of clashes there, with some on Twitter saying that gunfire has been heard near the square. |
Mr Yildirim had earlier denounced an "illegal action" by a military "group", stressing it was not a coup. He said that the government remained in charge. | Mr Yildirim had earlier denounced an "illegal action" by a military "group", stressing it was not a coup. He said that the government remained in charge. |
The military group's statement on national broadcaster TRT, read by an announcer, said that democratic and secular rule of law had been eroded by the current government. There would be new constitution, it said. | The military group's statement on national broadcaster TRT, read by an announcer, said that democratic and secular rule of law had been eroded by the current government. There would be new constitution, it said. |
A Turkish presidential source told Reuters news agency that the statement was not authorised by the army's command. | A Turkish presidential source told Reuters news agency that the statement was not authorised by the army's command. |
There are reports Turkey's top general, General Hulusi Akar, is among those taken hostage at the military HQ. | There are reports Turkey's top general, General Hulusi Akar, is among those taken hostage at the military HQ. |
Mr Yildirim told NTV by telephone: "There was an illegal act by a group within the military that was acting out of the chain of military command. Our people should know that we will not allow any activity that would harm democracy." | Mr Yildirim told NTV by telephone: "There was an illegal act by a group within the military that was acting out of the chain of military command. Our people should know that we will not allow any activity that would harm democracy." |
Traffic has been stopped from crossing both the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in Istanbul. | Traffic has been stopped from crossing both the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in Istanbul. |
Gunfire was also heard outside Istanbul police HQ and tanks were said to be stationed outside Istanbul airport. | |
One European Union source told Reuters that the military action "looks like a relatively well-orchestrated coup by a substantial body of the military, not just a few colonels". | One European Union source told Reuters that the military action "looks like a relatively well-orchestrated coup by a substantial body of the military, not just a few colonels". |
Turkey's military coups | Turkey's military coups |