Military Coup In Progress Inside Turkey

[Webster]

....to quote Joe Biden, this is a big f***ing deal...

(Sky News) The Turkish military says it has taken over after Turkey's PM said a military faction had been involved in an attempted coup.

Prime minister Binali Yildirim has called for calm, saying security forces are doing what is necessary to resolve the situation.

Turkish broadcaster NTV is showing footage of tanks at the entrance to Istanbul's Ataturk airport.

Military vehicles are blocking two bridges in Istanbul, while military jets have been heard flying over the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Some media reports have said ambulances were seen in front of Turkey's military headquarters.

Mr Yildirim has warned that those responsible for this "illegal attempt " will pay the "highest price."

 

[Webster]

 

[Webster]

CNBC: Apparent Attempted Coup In Turkey Underway


(CNBC/AFP) A Turkish security officer stands on guard on the side of the road on July 15, 2016 in Istanbul, during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge.

Gunfire was heard and jets were seen flying in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Friday as Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said a group within Turkey's military had attempted to overthrow the government.

Security forces had been called in to "do what is necessary," Yildirim said.

"Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command," Yildirim said in comments broadcast by private channel NTV and reported by Reuters.

"The government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so."

The Turkish military, however, claimed in a statement that it had taken over the country in order for democratic order and human rights to remain. In the statement, the military said that all existing foreign relations would continue and that rule of law would be a priority.

Footage from NTV showed tanks at the entrance to Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, and all flights from the airport were reportedly cancelled.

The dollar jumped about 5 percent against the Turkish lira on those reports.

Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance.

-Read more: Apparent attempted military coup ongoing in Turkey

 

[Webster]

Gunfire has been heard in the Turkish capital of Ankara and military forces have been spotted on streets and blocking bridges, witnesses say. There was no immediate word of authorities amid speculation of a coup attempt. Turkish prime minister suggests military coup attempt underway, says it will not succeed. James Valles reporting (BNO News)

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) The military says they want "to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for the law and order to be reinstated".

--- -- ---

(Sky News) The military statement went on to say that "all international agreements and commitments will remain. We pledge that good relations with all world countries will continue".

 

[Webster]

(BBC News) An army group in Turkey says it has taken control of the country, with bridges closed in Istanbul and aircraft flying low over Ankara.

PM Binali Yildirim earlier denounced an "illegal action" by a military "group", stressing it was not a coup. He said that the government remained in charge.

Traffic has been stopped from crossing both the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in Istanbul. There are reports of gunshots in the capital Ankara.

Gunfire was also heard outside Istanbul police HQ and tanks are said to be stationed outside Istanbul airport. All flights are cancelled.
-Read more: Turkey army group announces takeover on TV - BBC News

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) It's been reported that Turkey's top general Hulusi Akar has been taken hostage at the military headquarters in the capital Ankara. --- --- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is safe, says a source from his office.

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) Tanks have been seen on the streets. - via Turkish news source 140 Journos --- --- --- There have been reports of clashes between the police and the military, says Istanbul-based journalist Dorian Jones --- --- --- There are reports of soldiers inside the buildings of the Turkish state broadcaster.

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) Deserted roads in Istanbul after reports of military vehicles blocking bridges --- --- --- Internet monitoring groups claim that access to Facebook and Twitter have been restricted in Turkey. --- --- --- France's Foreign Ministry has advised its citizens in Turkey to stay indoors following the situation in Ankara, Istanbul.

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) US Secretary of State John Kerry has said he was still catching up with fast-moving events in Turkey.

But he said that however events play out, he hoped that Turkey would be able to resolve the crisis while preserving peace, stability and a respect for "continuity."

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) If successful, the overthrow of President Tayyip Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003, would amount to one of the biggest shifts in power in the Middle East in years.
...given the region in general, this could have massive implications for everyone in the region....

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) Turkish state broadcaster TRT says a curfew has been declared across the country. --- --- --- There are reports of gunfire near Istanbul police headquarters.

 

[Webster]

--JUST IN: U.S. Embassy Ankara confirms "shots have been heard in Ankara & both bridges in #Istanbul closed.” #Turkey(ABC News, 15 July 2016)

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) Moscow has called on Turkey to avoid all "bloodshed". --- --- --- Reporter Holly Williams' update from Istanbul is interrupted by two jets flying low overhead #Turkey

 

[Webster]

(Sky News) Russia's Foreign Minister has ordered Russian nationals in Turkey to stay indoors. --- --- --- Deserted roads in Istanbul after reports of military vehicles blocking bridges

 

[Webster]

.....Turkish TRT television reporting that martial law has been imposed across Turkey; in addition, U.S. forces located at both Incirlik and Izmir Air Bases have been placed on their highest alert status....

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) Turkish military broadcasts on state TV amid coup reports
--An announcement on the Turkish state broadcaster TRT says that a curfew has been declared across Turkey and that airports are closed. The announcer says they are being made to read a statement by the military.

The statement promises a new constitution for the country and says that democracy and the secular rule of law had been undermined. Martial law has also been imposed, it adds.

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) The White House says President Obama is aware of the developments in Turkey and will receive regular updates.

 

[Webster]

....if this has indeed been a military coup inside Turkey, it is the fifth such coup since 1960...

Past Turkish Military Coups
1960 Turkish coup d'etat
1971 Turkish coup memorandum
1980 Turkish coup d'etat
1993 Turkish coup d'etat
1997 Turkish coup memorandum

 

[Webster]

(The Guardian) More details from the statement read out on the state broadcaster TRT at the behest of the military faction that seems to be behind the coup: It says that the freedom of Turkish citizens is guaranteed by what is referred to as a “peace council”, regardless of religion, race or language.

It says the Peace Council will not allow public order to be damaged.

It is worth remembering at this point that the Turkish government still claims to be in charge.

An EU source monitoring events has told Reuters that military forces have control of airports and strategic points in Istanbul.