Turkey coup attempt: military claims takeover of government թ§Չ‚-Չ€œ live

Presidential sources say: թ§Չ‚-ժ“This is an attack against Turkish democracy. A group within the armed forces has made an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government outside the chain of command.

թ§Չ‚-ժ“The statement made on behalf of the Armed Forces wasnթ§Չ‚-Չ„§t authorised by the military command. We urge the world to stand in solidarity with the Turkish people.թ§Չ‚-Թ

Some more detail on the statement said to come from Turkeyթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s armed forces. They have reportedly said in emails reported on Turkish TV that they have taken power to protect the democratic order and to maintain human rights.

They added that all of Turkeyթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s existing foreign relations would be maintained and that the rule of law would remain the priority. The Guardian has not seen the correspondence and, therefore, can yet verify where it has come from or on behalf of whom – exactly – it was sent.

The Associated Press is now carrying fuller quotes from the Turkish prime ministerթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s interview with NTV.

Having confirmed his belief that an attempted coup was underway, Yթ„Թ՞ldթ„Թ՞rթ„Թ՞m said: թ§Չ‚-ժ“We are focusing on the possibility of an attempt [coup]. There was an illegal act by a group within the military that was acting out of the chain of military command. Our people should know that we will not allow any activity that would harm democracy.թ§Չ‚-Թ

The Dogan news agency said one-way traffic on the Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges were blocked. Video footage showed the bridge being blocked by military vehicles.

Turkey PM says attempted coup under way by

military Group

Turkeyթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s prime minister Binali Yildirim has said a group within Turkeyթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s military has engaged in what appeared to be an attempted coup.

Yildirim told NTV television on Friday: թ§Չ‚-ժ“It is correct that there was an attempt.թ§Չ‚-Թ

Yildirim didnթ§Չ‚-Չ„§t provide details, but said Turkey would never allow any թ§Չ‚-ժ“initiative that would interrupt democracyթ§Չ‚-Թ.

Gunshots were heard in the Turkish capital of Ankara, a Reuters witness said, as military jets and helicopters were seen flying overhead.

Reuters witnesses in Istanbul, Turkeyթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s biggest city, also spotted helicopters overhead, while the cityթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s Bosphorus bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge were both closed, local television channels reported, without giving a reason.

CNN Turkey showed two military vehicles and a group of soldiers lined up at the entrance of one of the bridges in Turkeyթ§Չ‚-Չ„§s biggest city.

It was not immediately clear if the events were related.

More details soon…

According to the Associated Press, Yթ„Թ՞ldթ„Թ՞rթ„Թ՞m, who was speaking to the local TV station NTV, said: թ§Չ‚-ժ“It is correct that there was an attempt.թ§Չ‚-Թ He provided no further details but said Turkey would never allow any թ§Չ‚-ժ“initiative that would interrupt democracyթ§Չ‚-Թ.

According to the Associated Press, Yթ„Թ՞ldթ„Թ՞rթ„Թ՞m, who was speaking to the local TV station NTV, said: թ§Չ‚-ժ“It is correct that there was an attempt.թ§Չ‚-Թ He provided no further details but said Turkey would never allow any թ§Չ‚-ժ“initiative that would interrupt democracyթ§Չ‚-Թ.