Turkish coup crumbles as govt supporters defy military

The attempt to overthrow the government of President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has failed, as government supporters marched to the streets in defiance of the stay at home order issued by a faction of the military.

Speaking from an undisclosed location late Friday, Erdogan charged the people to take to the streets to defend him.

“I urge the Turkish people to convene at public squares and airports. I never believed in a power higher than the power of the people,” he had said.

The military officially declared a coup after succeeding in closing two major bridges in Istanbul, shutting the Istanbul Ataturk airport, blocking social media, and making broadcast on the state television.

The jet of Erdogan, who had been holidaying on the coast, was initially prevented from touching down in Istanbul, but forces loyal to him regained control of the airport after fierce fighting.

Jets and helicopters hovered over Ankara, the country’s capital, and gunfire and explosions were heard on streets.

CNN reported that hostages were being held at the military headquarters, while the state-run Anadolu news agency said the chief of Turkey’s military staff was among people taken “hostage” in Ankara.

But by early Saturday, there were indications that government forces had gained upper hand.

According to Reuters, 30 pro-coup soldiers surrendered their weapons after being surrounded by armed police in Istanbul’s central Taksim square.

They were reportedly taken away in police vans as a fighter jet screeched overhead at low altitude, causing a boom that shook surrounding buildings and shattered windows.

A Turkish military commander said fighter jets had shot down a helicopter used by the coup plotters over Ankara, and state-run Anadolu news agency said 17 police officers were killed at special forces headquarters there.

The prosecutor’s office put the death toll from clashes at 42, saying most of the victims were civilians.

Addressing a press conference moments after he returned to the country, the president said the attempted coup was an act of treason, vowing that those behind it will “pay heavily”.

Erdogan, who spoke via NTV, a private station, commended the people for their courage, and said they have shown that he has their mandate to lead.

He also blamed followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for the attempt to overthrow his government, and promised to do all within his powers to purge the military of “disloyal elements”.

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