Turkey : PM Binali Yildirim says attempted coup underway, calls for calm

Fri Jul 15 2016
Ray Pierce (842 articles)
World
Turkey : PM Binali Yildirim says attempted coup underway, calls for calm

ISTANBUL/ANKARA : A group within Turkey’s military has attempted to overthrow the government and security forces have been called in to “do what is necessary”, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday.

“Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” Yildirim said in comments broadcast by private channel NTV.

“The government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so. Those behind the attempted coup would pay the highest price”.

On other hand details from the statement read out on the state broadcaster TRT at the behest of the military faction that seems to be behind the coup, says that the freedom of Turkish citizens is guaranteed by what is referred to as a “peace council”, regardless of religion, race or language. It says the Peace Council will not allow public order to be damaged.

The Turkish state broadcaster TRT has now gone off air, say the Reuters news agency and sources in Turkey.

It is worth remembering at this point that the Turkish government still claims to be in charge.

An EU source monitoring events has told Reuters that military forces have control of airports and strategic points in Istanbul.

Footage on local television channels showed military vehicles blocking bridges over the Bosphorus in Istanbul and tanks deployed at the city’s main airport. In the capital Ankara, warplanes and helicopters roared overhead. A Reuters journalist heard gunshots.

A Turkish official who did not want to be named said soldiers had been deployed in other cities in Turkey, but did not specify which ones.

Dogan News Agency reported the national police directorate had summoned all police to duty in Ankara.

Access to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube was restricted in Turkey on Friday, shortly after news broke that the military coup was under way, according to two internet monitoring groups.

Reuters reported that Turkey Blocks, a group that monitors internet shutdowns in the country, and Dyn, which monitors internet performance and traffic globally, both said it was difficult or impossible to access social media services in Turkey.

The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously restricted access to some social media platforms.

Reports are that there is chaos on the main thoroughfare Istiklal, with people running in all directions.

Restaurants and shops are closing, somtehing is happening on Taksim Square and Tarlabashi Boulevard seems to be closed. Cars are honking their horns and driving on the wrong side of the road. A lot of people are walking from the direction of Taksim. There is a sense of agitation, with people checking their phones or listening to the radio.

Ray Pierce

Ray Pierce

Ray Pierce is a Senior Market Analyst. He has been covering Asian stock markets for many years.

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