Turkish Military Says it has seized power in the country

ANKARA- The Turkish military says it has taken over the government and seized all power in the country, Reuters reported

In a statement read on television, Turkish General Staff announced that “Turkish Armed Forces took full control of power.” Earlier in the day, military vehicles, soldiers, and security forces were deployed on the streets of Istanbul and the capital of Ankara. Military jets and helicopters were seen flying over both major cities.

Turkey’s chief of military staff was among people taken hostage at the military headquarters in Ankara on Friday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported, while another broadcaster, CNN Turk said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was safe.

Turkey’s armed forces said on Friday they had taken power in the country to protect the democratic order and to maintain human rights. A correspondent for Turkey’s state broadcaster TRT has told Reuters that soldiers are inside the broadcaster’s building.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim went on national television to stress that some elements in the military attempted to overthrow the government, but “the government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so.”

“Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” Prime Minister Yildirim added.

In a statement, the Turkish military claims that it has taken over and that all international relations will be maintained. The government denies these claims.

Gunfire has been reported in the capital of Ankara, with fighter jets and military helicopters flying low over the city. Bridges leading over the Bosphorus out of Istanbul have also been closed.

A number of ambulances are en route to the Army General Headquarters building in Ankara. Tanks have been spotted at Ataturk airport in Istanbul.

All flights from Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport have been canceled, a Reuters witness said on Friday, citing a pilot, after the military said it had taken control of the government.

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.

Erdogan Urges Supporters to take to Streets and confront coup attempt

In a televised interview with CNN on Thursday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged his supporters to take to the streets and battle coup attempters.

Speaking via phone with CNN Turk, Erdogan claimed the ongoing coup was being led by a minority faction within the military and did not constitute a real threat to the government.

The Turkish President faced mockery for giving the report to Western media via Skype or FaceTime with analysts saying it was a final sign that Erdogan had once and for all lost control.

Erdogan also made appeals via Twitter to the Turkish people to stop the coup saying that “The survival of our democracy and national unity rely on seizing back the public squares and airports.”

There have been unconfirmed reports that Erdogan’s plane has been diverted inside the country, but airports in the Turkish capital had already been closed by the military with all flights diverted.

NBC News reported that Erdogan’s aircraft has been denied permission to land in Istanbul, citing a source in the US military, according to RT.

The latest report claims that the Turkish president is seeking asylum in Germany.

While the whereabouts of the Turkish president are still unknown, there have been unconfirmed reports that his plane has been flying across Europe. It has been claimed that Erdogan has been declined landing rights in Germany and Western media sources say he might be now heading for London.

Agencies

H.M