Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Friday, July 15, 2016

Turkish President Erdogan appears in Istanbul to denounce army coup attempt


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  • From the sectionEurope
The Bosphorus bridge was blocked off by military unitsImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionThe Bosphorus bridge was blocked off by military units

by Alara Berrak and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Analysts, Istanbul
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.
Forty-two people died during overnight clashes in the capital, Ankara, most of them civilians, the prosecutor's office said.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the situation was largely under control and 130 people had so far been arrested.
He has 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 and sporadic gunfire is still reported in major cities.
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.
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'

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 had 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."
The president said he had returned to Istanbul from the holiday resort of Marmaris in the south-west of the country. He said the town was later bombed,
Media caption"Here in Turkey there is confusion", reports the BBC's Katy Watson
Defying the announced curfew, a number of Erdogan supporters turned out on Taksim Square in Istanbul late on Friday.
There were reports of clashes there, with some on Twitter saying that gunfire had been heard near the square.
After the military takeover was announced, a statement from the group was read out on national broadcaster TRT. It said that the democratic and secular rule of law had been eroded by the current government. There would be new constitution, it said.
The statement declared that a "peace council" now ran the country and there would be a curfew and martial law.
Erdogan supporters protest in front of soldiers on Istanbul's Taksim Square. Photo: 16 July 2016Image copyrightAP
Image captionErdogan 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 2016Image copyrightREUTERS
Image captionOne protester tried to block tanks at Istanbul's Ataturk airport
Mr Erdogan spoke to CNN Turk via FacetimeImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionMr Erdogan spoke to CNN Turk via Facetime
There were reports Turkey's top general, General Hulusi Akar, was 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."
Traffic was stopped from crossing both the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in Istanbul.
Soldiers were deployed in Istanbul's Taksim SquareImage copyrightREUTERS
Image captionSoldiers were deployed in Istanbul's Taksim Square
Police were standing guard outside the Turkish military HQ in AnkaraImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionPolice were standing guard outside the Turkish military HQ in Ankara
Gunfire was also heard outside Istanbul police HQ and tanks were said to be stationed outside Istanbul airport.

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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