Reuters Breaking News Banner headline: Martial law imposed in Turkey - announced at state broadcaster TRT.
UPDATE 5:16 PM EDT from The Guardian's live updates on the incident:
15 minutes ago: The full Turkish military statement reads: “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 general security that was damaged.RT Published time: 15 Jul, 2016 20:31 Edited time: 15 Jul, 2016 20:40
Turkey’s government appears to have been overthrown in a coup, as the military claimed taking control over the country.
Heavily armed soldiers and military vehicles closed the two main bridges in Istanbul Friday evening, and while low-flying military jets could be heard overhead.
[...]
UPDATE 5:00 PM EDT:
Sputnik 22:48 15.07.2016 (updated 23:51 15.07.2016)
Gunfire Heard in Turkish Capital; Military Jets, Helicopters Seen Overhead
Turkish military has now released a statement saying that they have seized control of the government.
The Turkish military has taken to television to say that the "power of the country has been seized in its entirety" and that the Turkey's leadership have been detained by the troops which conflicts with official statements by the government saying that President Erdogan is in a safe location.
There are reports of a bomb blast at a police training facility in Ankara.
The Chief of Staff of Turkey's military, Hulusi Akar, has been taken hostage by the military coup plotters according to Turkish government officials.
Earlier on Friday, gunshots broke out in the Turkish capital of Ankara with witnesses saying that military jets and helicopters could be seen flying overhead. There has also been military helicopters spotted overhead in Turkey's largest city Istanbul according to Reuters.
There are also multiple reports of a large military operation, with soldiers deployed in Hatay Province.
Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim has stressed that nothing will harm Turkish democracy, while also adding that the military action is being taken without the proper chain of command.
All police and security forces personnel in Ankara have been told to report in, and reports indicate that military personnel are disarming regular police forces in Ankara and Istanbul.
Bridges over the Bosphorus in Istanbul have also reportedly been closed by Turkish military police.
Tanks have also been reported in Istanbul.
[END REPORT]
See Sputnik website for photos (although you can't see much) and Twitter postings, including this one:
Breaking News (AFP Twitter): Turkish military tanks deployed outside Ataturk airport in Istanbul: TV
********
No comments:
Post a Comment