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| Version 16 | Version 17 |
|---|---|
| Turkey coup attempt: Erdoğan calls military uprising 'treason' – live updates | Turkey coup attempt: Erdoğan calls military uprising 'treason' – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.10am BST | |
| 07:10 | |
| What we know so far | |
| Claire Phipps | |
| The picture from Turkey is clearer on Saturday morning, with president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan insisting he remains in charge after a night in which a military faction attempted to overthrow the government. | |
| But pockets of fighting continue, with some of those behind the coup claiming to be fighting on. | |
| Here is what we know: | |
| The attempted coup | |
| Deaths and arrests | |
| Erdoğan’s response | |
| Gülen denies involvement | |
| I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey. Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force. | |
| As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations. | |
| International reaction | |
| Turkey is a key partner for the European Union. The EU fully supports the democratically elected government, the institutions of the country and the rule of law. | |
| The democratic order in Turkey must be respected. Everything needs to be done to protect human lives. | |
| Military interference in the affairs of any state is unacceptable. | |
| We should all urge calm and respect for laws, institutions, and basic human rights and freedoms – and support for the democratically elected civilian government. | |
| Very concerned by events unfolding in #Turkey. Our Embassy is monitoring the situation closely. Brits should follow FCO website for advice | |
| Turkey on Saturday | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.17am BST | |
| 6.46am BST | 6.46am BST |
| 06:46 | 06:46 |
| Patrick Kingsley | Patrick Kingsley |
| Turkey has a long history of coups: the most recent occurring in 1997, and one of the most brutal in 1980. President Erdoğan’s Islamist-leaning government was believed to be in a stronger position than most previous civilian administrations, shoring up his position during a decade of economic success. He also inserted sympathisers and loyalists into key parts of the state apparatus and increasingly cracked down on suspected plotters. | Turkey has a long history of coups: the most recent occurring in 1997, and one of the most brutal in 1980. President Erdoğan’s Islamist-leaning government was believed to be in a stronger position than most previous civilian administrations, shoring up his position during a decade of economic success. He also inserted sympathisers and loyalists into key parts of the state apparatus and increasingly cracked down on suspected plotters. |
| But recent events in Turkey and across the Middle East have destabilised the country, with Kurdish rebels fighting a new insurgency in the south-east of the country. The Syrian civil war, raging across Turkey’s southern border, has also spilt over into Turkey, with Islamic State mounting a series of terror attacks across Turkey in the past year, killing hundreds. | But recent events in Turkey and across the Middle East have destabilised the country, with Kurdish rebels fighting a new insurgency in the south-east of the country. The Syrian civil war, raging across Turkey’s southern border, has also spilt over into Turkey, with Islamic State mounting a series of terror attacks across Turkey in the past year, killing hundreds. |
| Erdoğan’s Islamist-aligned government was also perceived by liberal wings of Turkish society to be infringing on the secular traditions established by the father of the modern Turkish state, Kemal Atatürk. But it is also opposed by followers of Fethullah Gülen, the exiled leader of another Islamist-minded movement. | Erdoğan’s Islamist-aligned government was also perceived by liberal wings of Turkish society to be infringing on the secular traditions established by the father of the modern Turkish state, Kemal Atatürk. But it is also opposed by followers of Fethullah Gülen, the exiled leader of another Islamist-minded movement. |
| 6.38am BST | 6.38am BST |
| 06:38 | 06:38 |
| Head of armed forces 'rescued' | Head of armed forces 'rescued' |
| Reports from Turkey say the head of the armed forces, General Hulusi Akar, who was apparently taken hostage during the attempted coup, has been freed. | Reports from Turkey say the head of the armed forces, General Hulusi Akar, who was apparently taken hostage during the attempted coup, has been freed. |
| NTV reports Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar was freed after an operation. He resumes command of the armed forces pic.twitter.com/EzciRt07KC | NTV reports Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar was freed after an operation. He resumes command of the armed forces pic.twitter.com/EzciRt07KC |
| That would appear to signal the end of Umit Dündar’s role as acting chief of military staff, which has lasted about two hours. | That would appear to signal the end of Umit Dündar’s role as acting chief of military staff, which has lasted about two hours. |
| 6.34am BST | 6.34am BST |
| 06:34 | 06:34 |
| Sixteen people involved in the attempted coup have been killed in clashes at Turkey’s military police command, says police chief Celalettin Lekesiz, according to state news agency Anadolu. | Sixteen people involved in the attempted coup have been killed in clashes at Turkey’s military police command, says police chief Celalettin Lekesiz, according to state news agency Anadolu. |
| Two hundred and fifty others have been arrested, Lekesiz says, adding that fighting at the compound continues but the skirmishes “are about to come to an end”. | Two hundred and fifty others have been arrested, Lekesiz says, adding that fighting at the compound continues but the skirmishes “are about to come to an end”. |
| Anadolu also reports that General Memduh Hakbilen, the chief of staff of Turkey’s command for the Aegean region, is among those arrested. | Anadolu also reports that General Memduh Hakbilen, the chief of staff of Turkey’s command for the Aegean region, is among those arrested. |
| In total, 754 members of the armed forces have been arrested. | In total, 754 members of the armed forces have been arrested. |
| Anadolu reported that soldiers involved in the coup were detained by fellow officers at the Etimesgut armoured units training command, close to Ankara, and handed over to police. | Anadolu reported that soldiers involved in the coup were detained by fellow officers at the Etimesgut armoured units training command, close to Ankara, and handed over to police. |
| 6.23am BST | 6.23am BST |
| 06:23 | 06:23 |
| Reports from Turkey say 29 colonels and five generals have been removed from their military posts. | Reports from Turkey say 29 colonels and five generals have been removed from their military posts. |
| A total of 754 members of the armed forces have been detained following the attempted coup. | A total of 754 members of the armed forces have been detained following the attempted coup. |
| A group of rebels continue to fight and are believed to still have control of some military helicopters. | A group of rebels continue to fight and are believed to still have control of some military helicopters. |
| 6.11am BST | 6.11am BST |
| 06:11 | 06:11 |
| There were attacks overnight on the Turkish parliament and presidential palace; it is unclear whether those assaults have stopped. | There were attacks overnight on the Turkish parliament and presidential palace; it is unclear whether those assaults have stopped. |
| Images from Ankara on Saturday morning show some of the damage. | Images from Ankara on Saturday morning show some of the damage. |
| 6.03am BST | 6.03am BST |
| 06:03 | 06:03 |
| Turkish news site Aksam reports the arrest of Rear Admiral Nejat Atilla Demirhan: | Turkish news site Aksam reports the arrest of Rear Admiral Nejat Atilla Demirhan: |
| Tuğamiral Nejat Atilla Demirhan, Mersin Emniyet Müdürlüğü’ne getirildi pic.twitter.com/VMbeBwnoi9 | Tuğamiral Nejat Atilla Demirhan, Mersin Emniyet Müdürlüğü’ne getirildi pic.twitter.com/VMbeBwnoi9 |
| 5.59am BST | 5.59am BST |
| 05:59 | 05:59 |
| According to a senior government official, via Reuters, Turkish military headquarters are now back under the control of armed forces loyal to the government. | According to a senior government official, via Reuters, Turkish military headquarters are now back under the control of armed forces loyal to the government. |
| However, there are still pockets of rebel soldiers continuing to fight, and they still have some military helicopters. | However, there are still pockets of rebel soldiers continuing to fight, and they still have some military helicopters. |
| No fighter jets remain under rebel control, the official said. | No fighter jets remain under rebel control, the official said. |
| 5.52am BST | 5.52am BST |
| 05:52 | 05:52 |
| Germany has expressed its backing for the Turkish government against the attempted coup. Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German chancellor Angela Merkel, said on Saturday morning: | Germany has expressed its backing for the Turkish government against the attempted coup. Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German chancellor Angela Merkel, said on Saturday morning: |
| The democratic order in Turkey must be respected. Everything needs to be done to protect human lives. | The democratic order in Turkey must be respected. Everything needs to be done to protect human lives. |
| 5.45am BST | 5.45am BST |
| 05:45 | 05:45 |
| State news agency Anadolu now reports that 754 members of the armed forces have been detained in connection with the attempted coup. | State news agency Anadolu now reports that 754 members of the armed forces have been detained in connection with the attempted coup. |
| 5.44am BST | 5.44am BST |
| 05:44 | 05:44 |
| Gülen 'categorically denies' links to coup | Gülen 'categorically denies' links to coup |
| Fethullah Gülen, the US-based cleric accused by Erdoğan of directing the coup from his home in Pennsylvania, has rejected the claim. In a statement, Gülen said: | Fethullah Gülen, the US-based cleric accused by Erdoğan of directing the coup from his home in Pennsylvania, has rejected the claim. In a statement, Gülen said: |
| I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey. Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force. | I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey. Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force. |
| As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. | As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. |
| I categorically deny such accusations. | I categorically deny such accusations. |
| Read more about Gülen and his rivalry with Erdoğan here: | Read more about Gülen and his rivalry with Erdoğan here: |
| Related: Fethullah Gülen: who is the man blamed by Turkey's president for coup attempt? | Related: Fethullah Gülen: who is the man blamed by Turkey's president for coup attempt? |
| 5.34am BST | 5.34am BST |
| 05:34 | 05:34 |
| In the face of government assertions that the coup has failed, the pro-coup faction of the armed forces insists it is still fighting, Reuters reports: | In the face of government assertions that the coup has failed, the pro-coup faction of the armed forces insists it is still fighting, Reuters reports: |
| An email from the Turkish military general staff’s press office address said on Saturday the faction of officers behind an attempted military coup overnight was still determinedly fighting all those who try to oppose it. | An email from the Turkish military general staff’s press office address said on Saturday the faction of officers behind an attempted military coup overnight was still determinedly fighting all those who try to oppose it. |
| Calling itself the Peace at Home Movement, the faction also called on people to stay indoors for their own safety. | Calling itself the Peace at Home Movement, the faction also called on people to stay indoors for their own safety. |