At least 90 people were killed during overnight clashes in capital Ankara following an attempted coup in Turkey. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said a new acting army chief of staff has been appointed after an attempted coup to topple the democratically elected government.
Turkish President Erdorgan has urged supporters to remain in public squares until situation returns to normal. and has informed them that his govt. is still in charge.
He added that there is still a small disturbance in Ankara, hopefully it will be overcome soon, says Erdogan.
Defiant Turkish civilians were captured climbing on to tanks and yanking soldiers from their vehicles during the failed coup attempt by the nation's armed forces.
People across the capital of Ankara marched onto the streets to rise up against the army after the military intervention was staged earlier this evening.
President Erdogan had encouraged people to fight against the military planning the coup by saying:
‘They can come with their tanks and cannons and try to show what they can do, we can show the tanks who is powerful.’
"Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price," he added, saying it would not be correct to describe the move as a "coup".
In a shocking onlone video groups of Erdogan supporters were seen pulling soldiers from the turret of their tank and throwing them onto the ground as they chanted in support of the Premier. In another short clip groups of men were seen chanting at soldiers rolling through the streets of the Turkish capital in tanks.
During the coup attempt, some anti govt people had celebrated military intervention by gathering on the streets and waving Turkish flags. They said they were unhappy about the way President Erdorgan was leading the country towards an Islamic state and the way he tries to trample on religious freedom in the country. After entering the capital soldiers seized the weapons of police units near the presidential palace and there was shooting near the police HQ.
Hostages were apparently being held at the military headquarters in the capital Ankara. Military jets and helicopters circled overhead.
However, Turkey’s military have claimed in a statement that they had taken ‘full control of government’ in order to protect human rights. They said government leaders had been detained and there were reports that the state broadcaster had been stormed.
‘Turkish armed forces have completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms, the rule of law and the general security that was damaged,’ said the statement.
Turkish state news agency reports a death toll of 90 dead people and 1,154 wounded in Turkey coup attempt . The report further states that nearly 1,563 soldiers at the military Headquarter surrendered and have been arrested by the Turkish Govt.
Source: AFP/Daily Mail.
