Turkey coup against President Erdogan: everything we know on Sunday morning
How it unfolded
An attempted Turkish military coup appeared to crumble in the early hours of Saturday after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan's call to take to the streets to support him.Mr Erdogan, who had been holidaying on the coast when the coup was launched, flew into Istanbul before dawn on Saturday and was shown on TV appearing among a crowd of supporters outside Ataturk Airport, which the coup plotters had failed to secure.
Turkey coup: How events unfolded
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The uprising was an "act of
treason", and those responsible would pay a heavy price, he later told
reporters at a hastily arranged news conference.
Gunfire and explosions had rocked both the main city Istanbul and capital Ankara in a chaotic night after soldiers took up positions in both cities and ordered state television to read out a statement declaring they had taken power.
Gunfire and explosions had rocked both the main city Istanbul and capital Ankara in a chaotic night after soldiers took up positions in both cities and ordered state television to read out a statement declaring they had taken power.
Low-flying jets seen in Ankara amid military coup attempt
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Turkish Prime Minister Benali
Yildirim says 161 people were killed. He says another more than 1,400
people were wounded in the chaos. More than 2,800 people have been
detained.
The coup attempt began late Friday, with a statement from the military saying it had seized control "to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for law and order to be reinstated".
Fighter jets buzzed overhead, gunfire erupted outside military headquarters and vehicles blocked two major bridges in Istanbul. Soldiers backed by tanks blocked entry to Istanbul's airport for a couple of hours, before being overtaken by pro-government crowds carrying Turkish flags, according to footage broadcast by the Dogan news agency.
The coup attempt began late Friday, with a statement from the military saying it had seized control "to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for law and order to be reinstated".
Fighter jets buzzed overhead, gunfire erupted outside military headquarters and vehicles blocked two major bridges in Istanbul. Soldiers backed by tanks blocked entry to Istanbul's airport for a couple of hours, before being overtaken by pro-government crowds carrying Turkish flags, according to footage broadcast by the Dogan news agency.
But the military did not appear
unified, with top commanders taking to television to condemn the action
and order troops back to their barracks.
"Those who are attempting a coup will not succeed. Our people should know that we will overcome this," General Zekai Aksakalli, the commander of the military special forces, told the private NTV television by telephone.
A lawyer for the Turkish government says "there are indications of direct involvement" in the coup attempt of a cleric who is living in exile in Pennsylvania.
"Those who are attempting a coup will not succeed. Our people should know that we will overcome this," General Zekai Aksakalli, the commander of the military special forces, told the private NTV television by telephone.
Who was responsible?
Factions within the military carried out the attempted coup. The leader is not yet known, but the prime minister said colonels were involved.A lawyer for the Turkish government says "there are indications of direct involvement" in the coup attempt of a cleric who is living in exile in Pennsylvania.
Footage shows military helicopter open fire over Ankara
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Robert Amsterdam said in a
statement Friday evening that he and his firm "have attempted repeatedly
to warn the US government of the threat posed" by Fethullah Gulen and
his movement.
He says that according to Turkish intelligence sources, "there are signs that Gulen is working closely with certain members of military leadership against the elected civilian government".
The president of a group that promotes Gulen's ideas denied the charges.
He says that according to Turkish intelligence sources, "there are signs that Gulen is working closely with certain members of military leadership against the elected civilian government".
The president of a group that promotes Gulen's ideas denied the charges.
Middle aged men climb onto tank during attempted military coup in Turkey
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Dr Y. Alp Aslandogan of the New
York-based Alliance for Shared Values said: "We categorically deny such
accusations and find them to be highly irresponsible."
Earlier in the evening, the alliance said: "We condemn any military intervention in (the) domestic politics of Turkey."
The US has resisted his extradition. Prime Minister Yildirim warned that any country that stood by Gulen would be at "war" with Turkey.
Mr Yildirim told public television that while the death penalty is not permitted under the Turkish constitution, they will consider legal changes "to make sure this does not happen again."
Earlier in the evening, the alliance said: "We condemn any military intervention in (the) domestic politics of Turkey."
The US has resisted his extradition. Prime Minister Yildirim warned that any country that stood by Gulen would be at "war" with Turkey.
Reprisals
In the first signs of a crackdown, on Saturday morning the government announced 2,700 judges were suspended from duty. Gulen is accused of having infiltrated the judiciary.Mr Yildirim told public television that while the death penalty is not permitted under the Turkish constitution, they will consider legal changes "to make sure this does not happen again."
Protests
Turks appeared to heed the calls
of Mr Erdogan and Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim, taking to the
streets of Izmir and Istanbul waving Turkish flags, according to
television footage. Crowds also began gathering in the Taksim Square in
Istanbul.
The Dogan news agency reported that soldiers fired on a group of people trying to cross the Bosphorus bridge to protest the attempted coup, and that some people had been hurt.
Clashes took place between supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), police and soldiers across Istanbul, with reports that civilians had been shot dead.
As the night wore on, momentum turned against the coup plotters. Crowds defied orders to stay indoors, gathering at major squares in Istanbul and Ankara, waving flags and chanting.
"We have a prime minister, we have a chief of command, we're not going to leave this country to degenerates," shouted one man, as groups of government supporters climbed onto a tank near Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.
On Saturday morning Turkish mobile phones were sent a message from Erdogan, urging them to take to the streets.
Hours later, the government had regained control of Istanbul's main airport. The state-run Anadolu news agency said operations at the airport were back to normal and that flights would begin again at 6.00 am (3am GMT).
Access was restricted in Turkey on Friday to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube shortly after news that a military coup was under way, according to two internet monitoring groups.
British Airways have suspended flights to Turkey. easyJet is continuing flights to coastal resorts. The Foreign Office warned holiday makers to stay inside and avoid public demonstrations.
Twitter's official global public policy team tweeted: "We have no reason to think we've been fully blocked in #Turkey, but we suspect there is an intentional slowing of our traffic in country."
The Dogan news agency reported that soldiers fired on a group of people trying to cross the Bosphorus bridge to protest the attempted coup, and that some people had been hurt.
Clashes took place between supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), police and soldiers across Istanbul, with reports that civilians had been shot dead.
As the night wore on, momentum turned against the coup plotters. Crowds defied orders to stay indoors, gathering at major squares in Istanbul and Ankara, waving flags and chanting.
"We have a prime minister, we have a chief of command, we're not going to leave this country to degenerates," shouted one man, as groups of government supporters climbed onto a tank near Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.
On Saturday morning Turkish mobile phones were sent a message from Erdogan, urging them to take to the streets.
Access to country
Soldiers blocked entry to Ataturk Airport, where four tanks were stationed, according to the private Dogan news agency. Two other tanks and a military vehicle were stationed in front of the VIP terminal. Dogan said the soldiers had entered the tower and stopped all flights.Hours later, the government had regained control of Istanbul's main airport. The state-run Anadolu news agency said operations at the airport were back to normal and that flights would begin again at 6.00 am (3am GMT).
Access was restricted in Turkey on Friday to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube shortly after news that a military coup was under way, according to two internet monitoring groups.
British Airways have suspended flights to Turkey. easyJet is continuing flights to coastal resorts. The Foreign Office warned holiday makers to stay inside and avoid public demonstrations.
Twitter's official global public policy team tweeted: "We have no reason to think we've been fully blocked in #Turkey, but we suspect there is an intentional slowing of our traffic in country."
World leaders' reaction
Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Secretary, said he was "very concerned" by events in Turkey. "Our embassy is monitoring the situation closely," Mr Johnson said in a message posted on Twitter. "Brits should follow FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office) website for advice."
Barack Obama, the US president,
spoke by telephone with Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday night
about events in Turkey and agreed that all parties there should support
the democratically elected government, show restraint and avoid any
violence or bloodshed, the White House said.
"The Secretary underscored that the State Department will continue to focus on the safety and security of US citizens in Turkey. The President asked the Secretary to continue to keep him updated as the situation unfolds," the White House said in a statement.
"The Secretary underscored that the State Department will continue to focus on the safety and security of US citizens in Turkey. The President asked the Secretary to continue to keep him updated as the situation unfolds," the White House said in a statement.
Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations
Secretary-General, appealed for calm as the world body sought to clarify
the situation in the country, said a UN spokesman.
"The Secretary-General is closely following developments in Turkey. He is aware of the reports of a coup attempt in the country. The United Nations is seeking to clarify the situation on the ground and appeals for calm," said spokesman Farhan Haq.
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged "restraint" in Turkey, while Moscow was "deeply concerned" about the situation, the Kremlin said.
"Moscow is deeply concerned about the news coming from Turkey," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that President Vladimir Putin was being constantly informed of new developments by the Russian foreign ministry and intelligence services.
A Nato official at alliance headquarters in Brussels said they were "following events closely," but said he had no other comment.
Residents said convoys of cars were parading around the Mazzeh district of the Syrian capital, with people waving flags and shouting: "God, Syria and Bashar!" There were similar celebrations in other government-held cities.
"The Secretary-General is closely following developments in Turkey. He is aware of the reports of a coup attempt in the country. The United Nations is seeking to clarify the situation on the ground and appeals for calm," said spokesman Farhan Haq.
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged "restraint" in Turkey, while Moscow was "deeply concerned" about the situation, the Kremlin said.
"Moscow is deeply concerned about the news coming from Turkey," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that President Vladimir Putin was being constantly informed of new developments by the Russian foreign ministry and intelligence services.
A Nato official at alliance headquarters in Brussels said they were "following events closely," but said he had no other comment.
Syria
Hundreds of cheering people took to the streets of Damascus early on Saturday and celebratory gunfire erupted after Turkey's army said it seized power from President Tayyip Erdogan, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main regional opponents.Residents said convoys of cars were parading around the Mazzeh district of the Syrian capital, with people waving flags and shouting: "God, Syria and Bashar!" There were similar celebrations in other government-held cities.
Mr Assad's government has accused
Mr Erdogan of stoking Syria's five-year conflict by supporting Islamist
insurgents battling Damascus and allowing foreign jihadis to cross the
border from Turkey into Syria.
A resident in the government-held part of the northern city of Aleppo said people believed that "Erdogan's fall is an announcement of the end of the crisis in Syria, given he is the one chiefly responsible for the crisis".
A resident in the government-held part of the northern city of Aleppo said people believed that "Erdogan's fall is an announcement of the end of the crisis in Syria, given he is the one chiefly responsible for the crisis".
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