Turks remained on the streets Saturday, as forces regained control after a spectacular coup bid by discontented soldiers which claimed more than 250 lives.
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Danny Goulkan tweeted shortly after 8am on Saturday: “Unlike yesterday night we feel safe”.
As the events unfolded, Egyptian TV personality Ahmed Moussa declared “this isn’t a military coup”, but “a revolution within the Turkish armed forces”.
The death toll apparently did not include 104 putschists killed in the attempt.
“Citizens are gathering near the People’s mosque of Bestepe at the presidential complex to protect democracy after the coup attempt by a group of betrayers, who are members of FETO/PDY (Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure) has failed”, the statement said.
“In Turkey the army is not governing the state and they can not, and this should be known by all”, Erdogan said, addressing crowds in Istanbul on Saturday morning.
Top Turkish officials – including the president, the prime minister and the interior minister – all urged supporters to come out to city squares again Saturday night to defend the country’s democracy. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that those responsible “will pay a heavy price for their treason” as authorities arrested or dismissed thousands of troops and judges. “The coup attempt’s organizer must be punished”. They had been told by commanders they were taking part in military maneuvers.
The military had, at one point, taken over TRT – the state-run television broadcaster in Ankara, multiple sources reported.
“I think in the short term this failed coup plot will strengthen President Erdogan, particularly in his drive to turn his office into a strong and centralized executive presidency”, Hakura added.
A group within Turkey’s military engaged in what appeared to be an attempted coup, the prime minister said, with military jets flying over the capital and reports of vehicles blocking two major bridges in Istanbul.
Soldiers blocked entry to Ataturk Airport where four tanks were stationed, according to the private Dogan news agency.
General Dundar said coup attempt “was rejected by chain of command immediately”.
Soldiers push each other to board a bus to escape the mob after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey July 16, 2016.
Supporters of Gulen have long attempted to use the judiciary to advance corruption investigations against Erdogan sparking a bitter divide between the two groups.
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Gulen’s movement promotes a version of Islam that embraces science, education and interfaith dialogue, earning him millions of followers but also the suspicion of many in Turkey’s establishment.
