Erdogan appears in Istanbul to denounce army coup attempt, says as 200 reported killed

Senior #Turkey official says bomb attacks on parliament are still continuing

— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) July 16, 2016

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has flown in to Istanbul, after an army

group said it took over the country. Government forces crushed a coup attempt, Erdogan 1said Saturday as he vowed retribution after a chaotic night of clashes between loyalists and rebels that left at least 200 people dead and may not be entirely over.

He was seen surrounded by cheering supporters, saying in a live TV speech that the coup attempt was an "act of treason" and the army must be cleansed.

Sixty people died during overnight clashes, many of them civilians, and 754 soldiers were arrested, officials said.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the situation was largely under control.

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 the capital Ankara.


"In Turkey the army is not governing the state and they cannot, and this should be known by all," Erdogan said, addressing crowds in Istanbul on Saturday morning. "The government is in control."

He said the coup's supporters — rogue elements in the military — would "pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey” and that “those who stain the military’s reputation must leave. The process has started today, and it will continue just as we fight other terrorist groups.”

While Erdogan insisted the government was in control, the situation is still fluid and some fighting appeared to continue into Saturday. Gen. Umit Dundar, a newly appointed acting military chief, told the Associated Press that more than 190 people died in clashes; 41 police officers, two soldiers, 47 civilians and 104 people described as “coup plotters.”

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the military chief of staff, Gen Hulusi Akar, are still unknown. He is reported to have been taken hostage by rebel soldiers.

Gen Umit Dundar, commander of the 1st Army, has been appointed acting chief of staff.

Sporadic gunfire is still reported in major cities.

Reports also say rebel soldiers in some areas have been surrendering their weapons to police loyal to Mr Erdogan.

The surrender of one unit of 60 soldiers, who had taken control of one of the Bosphorus bridges in Istanbul, was shown live on TV on Saturday morning.

Istanbul's main Ataturk airport is now under army control, and flights - which had been interrupted for some hours - were due to resume from 06:00 (03:00 GMT).

In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said the coup attempt "was foiled by the Turkish people in unity and solidarity. Our president and government are in charge".

"Turkish Armed Forces was not involved in the coup attempt in its entirety. It was conducted by a clique within the armed forces and received a well-deserved response from our nation."

It is unclear who is leading the coup faction or how much support it enjoys.

The group earlier declared that a "peace council" now ran the country and there was a curfew and martial law.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency said 1,563 military personnel were detained across Turkey as the government cracked down on the coup.

In Istanbul, images on television and social media on Saturday morning showed soldiers with their hands up walking away from tanks on the city's Bosphorus Bridge.

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.”



Soldiers were 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.

European Council President Donald Tusk said the country was "a key partner for the European Union".

"We call for a swift return to Turkey's constitutional order," he added.