• Martial law imposed and curfew declared across country • Action taken to ‘reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms’, say armed forces • Military aircraft seen flying over Ankara and gunfire reported
More 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:
It 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.
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.
The White House says President Obama is aware of the developments in Turkey and will receive regular updates.
Turkish military broadcasts on state TV amid coup reports
An announcement on the Turkish state broadcaster TRT says that a curfew has been declared across Turkey and that airports are closed. The announcer says they are being made to read a statement by the military.
The statement promises a new constitution for the country and says
that democracy and the secular rule of law had been undermined. Martial
law has also been imposed, it adds.
The head of the Istanbul branch of Turkey’s ruling AK party says
soldiers entered the party building and asked them to leave, CNN Turk
reports.
The US secretary of state John Kerry says he hopes there will be peace, stability and unity within Turkey amid reports that a military coup is underway.
Soldiers are inside the buildings of the Turkish state broadcaster
TRT in the country’s capital Ankara, a correspondent for that outlet
tells the Reuters news agency.
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.
A Turkish military stands guard in the Taksim Square in Istanbul. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters
“All international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue.”
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is on holiday and outside
the country. Reuters has quoted a source within his office as saying
that he is safe.
There are numerous reports that hostages have been taken in the
Turkish capital, Ankara. CNN Turk say they’re being held at a military
HQ there.
The state-run Anadolu press agency says the chief of military staff is among those being held.
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