“The source expressed the kingdom’s welcome that things are returned to normal led by his Excellency President Tayyip Erdogan and his elected government and in line with the constitutional legitimacy and the will of the Turkish people”, SPA said.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed he is still in charge of the country and denounced a coup attempt as “treason”.
The Foreign Office is advising Britons in Turkey to stay indoors, avoid public places, especially demonstrations, and remain vigilant.
In a televised address to the nation, Yildirim called the coup plotters terrorists, but said the nation has answered their attempt effectively, the Guardian reported. Erdogan blamed US-based cleric Fethullah Gülen for the coup.
“We wish to convey our prayers and good wishes for President Erdogan’s well-being and welfare of the people of Turkey as well as the unity of the Islamic Ummah (community)”.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as praising the “brave defense by the people of Turkey of their democracy and elected government”. The Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim gave a suspiciously precise figure of 2,839 for the number of officers and rank-and-file taking part in the attempted coup, but this sounds too few given the number of incidents.
Airports were shut and access to internet social media sites was cut off in the first hours of the coup attempt.
Fadi Hakura, a Turkey expert at the Chatham House think tank in London, said it was not clear who was behind the attempted coup, but it appeared to have been “carried out by lower-ranking officers – at the level of colonel”. Soldiers backed by tanks blocked entry to Istanbul’s airport for a couple of hours before being overtaken by pro-government crowds carrying Turkish flags, according to footage broadcast by the Dogan news agency.
Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member with the second biggest military in the Western alliance, is one of the most important allies of the United States in the fight against Islamic State.
Gulen has rejected any responsibility and condemned the attempted coup. An opposition deputy told Reuters parliament was hit three times and that people had been wounded.
However, it can be assumed that the Israeli government, the defense establishment and the intelligence community would not have shed a tear if the coup had succeeded, Erdogan was ousted and the army took power.
“We urge the Turkish government now to recognise the need to unify the country and show greater respect for human rights, free speech and justice”.
Earlier, dozens of soldiers backing the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul, which they had held throughout the night, holding their hands above their heads as they were detained, television pictures showed.
“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”. People take streets in Ankara, Turkey during a protest against military coup on July 16, 2016.
Turkish Chief of Army Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, who had been held hostage by the rebellious troops, was rescued during an operation at an airbase in Ankara this morning. Some flag-waving people climbed onto the tanks.
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Pakistan Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General in Istanbul have released emergency contact numbers for the assistance of the Pakistani community in Turkey.
