In an astonishing and reckless attack on the United States the Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the country considers itself at war with any nation that stands by the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
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Turkey has suffered numerous bombings and shootings this year, including an attack two weeks ago by Islamists at Ataturk airport that killed more than 40 people, as well as those staged by Kurdish militants.
By contrast, this latest coup attempt was not so postmodern in the way it was carried out – tanks were indeed in the streets, and buildings bombed – but the way it played out was a spectacle unlike any Turkey has seen. Erdogan had been on a seaside vacation when tanks rolled into the streets of Ankara and Istanbul.
Describing the attempted coup as a “black stain” on Turkey’s democracy, Yildirim said that 161 people had been killed in the night of violence and 1,440 wounded.
Anadolu Agency reported early Saturday that a bomb had hit the Turkish parliament in Ankara.
Crowds of flag-waving supporters of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) appeared to have turned the tide, defying orders of a curfew and marching out onto the streets to block the attempt to overthrow the regime. “Turkish law will now deal with coup plotters”.
Troops loyal to the government are moving to crush the coup attempt, arresting some 130 anti-government forces.
The chaos capped a period of political turmoil in Turkey blamed on the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which has included a government shake up, a crackdown on dissidents and opposition media and renewed conflict in the mainly Kurdish areas of the southeast. “We will not leave our country to occupiers”.
Erdogan, a polarising figure whose Islamist-rooted ideology lies at odds with supporters of modern Turkey’s secular principles, said the plotters had tried to attack him in the resort town of Marmaris. “I categorically deny such accusations”, he added.
With at least 2,839 soldiers already detained in a relentless round-up over the coup plot, the authorities blamed the conspiracy on Erdogan’s arch enemy, the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
“Whichever country is behind him is not a friend of Turkey and in a serious war against Turkey”, he added.
Broadcaster CNN-Turk said that Akar was taken hostage at military headquarters in Ankara and transported by helicopter to Akincilar Air Base.
Turkish officials said Saturday morning the government had appeared to have repelled an attempted military coup following a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire across the capital that left at least 17 dead, according to state-run media. “Turkish people will not accept any preposition as to who should rule the country”, the envoy told ANI. The military now is not what they want.
“And obviously I’ve also spoken to our diplomatic staff in Ankara and in Istanbul”.
A Blackhawk military helicopter with seven Turkish military personnel and one civilian landed in the Greek city of Alexandroupolis, where the passengers requested asylum. Turkey’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies lined up to condemn the coup. Regular explosions could be heard from the AFP office situated near the complex. “We pledge that good relations with all world countries will continue”, the military said in the unnamed statement.
Erdogan denounced the coup attempt as “treachery”, saying he was carrying out his functions and would keep on working “to the end”.
Yildirim says Gulen must return to Turkey to face charges of treason and terrorism as he’s running out of options after the failed coup. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement Saturday that democracy needed to be defended and condemned “any attempts to change the democratic order in Turkey by force”. It was not clear exactly who within the military was behind the coup attempt, or how widespread support was in the military. “This government brought to power by the people is in charge”, he told large crowds after landing at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport early Saturday and declaring the coup a failure.
The faction, comprising roughly of a few thousand soldiers, declared martial law in the country last night as they attempted to overthrow the government.
“The Turkish Armed Forces, in accordance with the constitution, have seized management of the country to reinstate democracy, human rights, and freedom, and to ensure public order, which has deteriorated”, the statement said.
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Prime Minister Yildirim called all legislators for an emergency meeting Saturday, Anadolu reported.
