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Group in Turkish Military Attempts Coup, PM Says

A Turkish state television broadcaster read a statement saying the military has taken over control of the country and that he was reading it on orders from the military.

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The military said that “all global agreements and commitments will remain”.

It said all global agreements were “still valid”, adding: “We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue”.

Turks appeared to heed that call early Saturday marching through the streets of Izmir and Istanbul waving Turkish flags, according to television footage.

Turkey’s military said on Friday it had seized power but President Tayyip Erdogan vowed that the attempted coup would be put down.

“We are focusing on the possibility of an attempt (coup)”, Yildirim said. “Unless Assad changes, nothing changes in Turkey”, Yildirim said.

“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 company said.

“In particular, we urge all those in a position of authority to reassure Britons and other foreign nationals now visiting Turkey that they are safe, and will be allowed to return home without impediment at the earliest opportunity”. Skinner now works with the Soufan Group, a NY organization that provides strategic security intelligence services to governments and multinational organizations.

He said that, “Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price”, but added that it would not be correct to describe the move as a “coup”. The military instead warned people to stay inside their homes.

If successful, the overthrow of Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003, would be one of the biggest shifts in the Middle East in years, transforming one of the most important USA allies while war rages on its border.

After serving as prime minister from 2003, Erdogan was elected president in 2014 with plans to alter the constitution to give the previously ceremonial presidency far greater executive powers.

“This is an attack against Turkish democracy”, the aide said. “We are taking the necessary precautions with (soldiers) who have not joined them and remain within the military chain of command”. He urged the Turkish people to rise up against the coup attempt.

CNN Turk says they are being held at a military headquarters there, where the rogue army faction reportedly is still in control.

The Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges in Istanbul have been closed by the Turkish military, although they say human rights will remain. Dogan said the soldiers had entered the tower and stopped all flights.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters in Moscow that he has been given reports about what is going on. “Since the breakout of the Syrian civil war, Ankara has been one of the strongest backers of the opposition, calling for the removal of Syria”;s President Bashar al-Assad.

Security forces in Istanbul blocked two bridges connecting the Anatolian side to the European side of the city.

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Dogan News Agency reported the national police directorate summoned all police to duty in Ankara, Reuters reported. Media reports said ambulances were seen in front of the Turkey’s military headquarters with helicopters flying overhead.

Military Coup Attempt Underway in Turkey