Anti-Erdogan Coup Military Attempts Failed
MEP: A group of unidentified faction of the Turkish military on Friday night launched a coup attempt aimed at toppling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government in Istanbul and Ankara.
Forty-two people died during overnight clashes in the capital, Ankara, most of them civilians, prosecutors said.
Another 120 people involved in the putsch have so far been arrested.
However, hours after the attempt has broken in both cities.
“Turkish Armed Forces have completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedom,” according to reports.
President Erdogan appeared early on Saturday among a crowd of supporters at Istanbul’s main airport, footage broadcast on local media showed, hours after a dramatic attempt by an army faction to topple the government.
Erdogan’s arrival in Istanbul came after Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told broadcaster NTV on Saturday that the situation in Turkey was “largely under control”.
He said the coup is over and the “the government is in control”, but reports of explosions and gunfire are still coming in from Istanbul.
Reports also say the soldiers in some areas have been surrendering their weapons to police loyal to Mr Erdogan. According to military.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the military chief of staff, Gen Hulusi Akar, are still unknown. He is reported to have been taken hostage by soldiers.
Speaking at a news conference, Erdogan added the attempt to push him from power was “an act of treason” and that those behind the plot would “pay a heavy price”.
